Factors affecting the quality of life of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A questionnaire study

Abstract

Objective:This descriptive and cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the factors affecting cancer patients’ quality of life.Methods:We collected data from 352 chemotherapy patients of an Outpatient Chemotherapy Unit in a state hospital. We included volunteered chemotherapy patients with a signed informed consent and at least 50 Karnofsky Performance Scale points. We gathered data by Personal Information Form and Nightingale Symptom Assessment Scale (N-SAS) and analyzed via basic descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis.Results:Patients were women (54.8%), married (83.5%), elementary school graduates (57.1%), housewives (44.6%) and undergoing fluorouracil-based therapy (47.2%), and almost all patients had religious and cultural rituals for the disease. Women experienced worse physical and social well-being than men (P = 0.001, P = 0.0001). Singles had worse psychological and general well-being (P = 0.0001, P = 0.0001). Housewives had the worst physical and social well-being (P < 0.05). No relationship existed between education level and life quality (P > 0.05). Breast cancer and sarcoma patients had the worst social well-being than other cancer patients. The N-SAS points of patients were not affected by blessings/prays, vow/sacrifice, consulting local herbalists and visiting “ocaks (folk physicians)” (P > 0.05). Patients with bad quality of life practiced lead pouring and amulets (P < 0.05). Gender was the first factor affecting the quality of life.Conclusion:Advanced studies on individual quality of life factors affecting cancer would empower nurses for better personal care techniques and patients for easily overcoming the disease.

Investigation of the relationship among fatigue, self-efficacy and quality of life during chemotherapy in patients with breast, lung or gastrointestinal cancer

“…Fatigue can influence the patients' treatment decisions and limit their self-care activities (Wright et al, 2015). Many personal and treatment-related factors influence fatigue and QoL in patients with cancer (Beijer, Kempen, Pijls-Johannesma, de Graeff, & Dagnelie, 2008;Dapueto, Servente, Francolino, & Hahn, 2005;McCabe, Grutsch, Braun, & Nutakki, 2015;Üstündağ & Zencirci, 2015). Psychological factors were found to influence patients' perceptions of fatigue symptoms (Kim et al, 2006;McCabe et al, 2015).…”

Minichromosome maintenance complex component 7 has an important role in the invasion of papillary urothelial neoplasia

“…The latter are associated with a higher risk of recurrence and poorer survival rates. Therefore, a correct pathological diagnosis is important for clinical treatment and prognosis (18)(19)(20). The present study identified a statistically significant and progressive increase in the expression of MCM7 with increasing grade and stage of papillary urothelial neoplasms.…”

Study Type D Personality and Cognitive Strategies of Emotion Regulation as Predictors of Happiness and Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer

“…In addition, studies have indicated that patients with breast cancer had a worse social well-being than patients with other cancers [21]; therefore, considering the psychological factors in patients suffering from breast cancer is of great importance. The results of the present study indicated a significant negative association between type D personality and happiness and a positive association between type D personality and QOL (P<0.001), between positive cognitive strategies of emotion regulation and QOL and happiness (both P<0.001), and no significant relationship between negative cognitive strategies of emotion regulation and happiness and QOL (P=0.08).…”