Browsing by Author "Krouse, Robert S."

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    Complications among colorectal cancer survivors: SF-6D preference-weighted quality of life scores
    (2011-03) Hornbrook, Mark C.; Wendel, Christopher S.; Coons, Stephen Joel; Grant, Marcia; Herrinton, Lisa J.; Mohler, M. Jane; Baldwin, Carol M.; McMullen, Carmit K.; Green, Sylvan B.; Alschuler, Andrea; Rawl, Susan M.; Krouse, Robert S.
    Background Societal preference-weighted health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores enable comparing multi-dimensional health states across diseases and treatments for research and policy. Objective To assess the effects of living with a permanent intestinal stoma, compared to a major bowel resection, among colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors. Research Design Cross-sectional multivariate linear regression analysis to explain preference-weighted HRQOL scores. Subjects Six-hundred-forty CRC survivors (≥5 years) from three group-model HMOs; ostomates and non-ostomates with colorectal resections for CRC were matched on gender, age (±5 years), time since diagnosis, and tumor site (rectum vs. colon). Measures SF-6D scoring system applied to Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 version 2 (SF-36v2); City of Hope Quality of Life-Ostomy (mCOH-QOL-O); Charlson-Deyo comorbidity index. Methods Survey of CRC survivors linked to respondents’ clinical data extracted from HMO files. Results Response rate was 52%. Ostomates and non-ostomates had similar sociodemographic characteristics. Mean SF-6D score was 0.69 for ostomates, compared to 0.73 for non-ostomates (p <.001), but other factors explained this difference. Complications of initial cancer surgery, and prior-year comorbidity burden and hospital use were negatively associated with SF-6D scores, while household income was positively associated. Conclusions CRC survivors’ SF-6D scores were not associated with living with a permanent ostomy after other factors were taken into account. Surgical complications, comorbidities, and metastatic disease lowered the preference-weighted HRQOL of CRC survivors with and without ostomies. Further research to understand and reduce late complications from CRC surgeries as well as associated depression is warranted.
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    Positive correlation of employment and psychological well-being for veterans with major abdominal surgery
    (2010-11) Horner, David J.; Wendel, Christopher S.; Skeps, Raymond; Rawl, Susan M.; Grant, Marcia; Schmidt, C. Max; Ko, Clifford Y.; Krouse, Robert S.
    Background Intestinal stomas (ostomies) have been associated negatively with multiple aspects of health-related quality of life. This article examines the relationship between employment status and psychological well-being (PWB) in veterans who underwent major bowel procedures with or without ostomy. Methods Veterans from 3 Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers were surveyed using the City of Hope ostomy-specific questionnaire and the Short Form 36 item Veteran’s version (SF-36V). Response rate was 48% (511 of 1,063). Employment and PWB relationship was assessed using multiple regression with age, income, SF-36V physical component summary (PCS), and employment status as independent variables. Results Employed veterans reported higher PWB compared with unemployed veterans (P = .003). Full-time workers also reported higher PWB than part-time or unemployed workers (P = .001). Ostomy was not an independent predictor of PWB. Conclusions Employment among veterans after major abdominal surgery may have intrinsic value for PWB. Patients should be encouraged to return to work, or do volunteer work after recovery.
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    Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Trauma and Emergency Surgery
    (Mary Ann Liebert, 2021) Haines, Lindsay K.; Cook, Allyson C.; Hatchimonji, Justin S.; Ho, Vanessa P.; Kalbfell, Elle L.; O’Connell, Kathleen M.; Robenstine, Jacinta C.; Schlögl, Mathias; Toevs, Christine C.; Jones, Christopher A.; Krouse, Robert S.; Martin, Niels D.; Surgery, School of Medicine
    There is growing interest in, and need for, integrating palliative care (PC) into the care of patients undergoing emergency surgery and those with traumatic injury. Thus, PC consults for these populations will likely grow in the coming years. Understanding the nuances and unique characteristics of these two acutely ill populations will improve the care that PC clinicians can provide. Using a modified Delphi technique, this article offers 10 tips that experts in the field, based on their broad clinical experience, believe PC clinicians should know about the care of trauma and emergency surgery patients.