Table 3 Comparisons of QOL at the baseline and 2 weeks post-RT between the two groups (n = 178)

Functioning scales

Physical functioning PF

1-5

77.23(10.19)

78.91(10.81)

−1.067

0.288

79.70(9.80)

75.36(9.71)

2.970

0.003

Role functioning RF

6,7

59.55(24.48)

58.28(24.49)

0.347

0.729

59.18(24.23)

57.45(21.01)

0.507

0.613

Emotional functioning EF

21-24

72.57(12.51)

70.77(14.71)

0.874

0.383

74.18(11.43)

66.03(14.00)

4.251

<0.001

Cognitive functioning CF

20,25

80.71(11.48)

81.27(11.46)

−0.327

0.744

81.09(12.36)

78.58(10.01)

1.489

0.138

Social functioning SF

26,27

75.00(13.82)

73.43(12.31)

0.802

0.424

74.35(10.67)

71.33(11.88)

1.782

0.076

Global health status QL

29,30

61.31(13.23)

58.43(12.78)

1.48

0.141

58.80(12.20)

51.12(12.82)

4.092

<0.001

Symptom scales and/or items

Fatigue FA

10,12,18

28.05(14.75)

28.63(13.38)

−0.276

0.783

29.20(11.86)

32.93(13.78)

−1.938

0.054

Nausea/vomiting NV

14,15

11.05(11.50)

9.74(9.99)

0.812

0.418

14.61(12.26)

15.92(10.93)

−0.753

0.452

Pain PA

9,19

31.46(13.86)

30.52(14.70)

0.437

0.662

28.84(15.64)

30.90(16.77)

−0.847

0.398

Dyspnea DY

8

12.36(16.19)

14.79(16.56)

−0.992

0.323

11.98(16.08)

12.36(16.95)

−0.151

0.880

Insomnia SL

11

29.21(22.37)

30.71(21.45)

−0.456

0.649

27.71(20.25)

34.08(20.71)

−2.074

0.040

Appetite loss AP

13

23.03(22.96)

25.09(22.63)

−0.603

0.547

26.78(21.26)

28.84(23.13)

−0.618

0.537

Constipation CO

16

16.85(20.18)

16.10(20.17)

0.248

0.805

18.73(19.43)

20.97(19.71)

−0.766

0.445

Diarrhea DI

17

10.86(19.32)

9.36(15.88)

0.565

0.573

13.11(17.13)

12.36(18.38)

0.281

0.779

Financial difficulties FI

28

62.17(29.38)

61.42(29.26)

0.170

0.865

68.17(30.11)

67.04(28.65)

0.255

0.799