Abstract
This study examined changes in the quality of life (QOL), as well as the factors affecting QOL, among patients with painful spinal bone metastases without paralysis for 1 month after radiotherapy. METHODS: This study included 79 participants (40 male and 39 female; median age, 65 (42-88) years) who had undergone radiotherapy for painful spinal bone metastases without paralysis. Patients' age, sex, activities of daily living (Barthel index), pain, spinal instability (spinal instability neoplastic score [SINS]), and QOL (EORTC QLQ-C30) were investigated. RESULTS: Having an unstable SINS score was a positive factor for global health status (p < 0.05). The improvement in activities of daily living and response to pain were positive factors for physical function (p < 0.05). A positive effect on emotional function was confirmed among female patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Engaging in rehabilitation along with radiotherapy leads to improvements in QOL for patients with spinal bone metastases.