The Relationship Between Disease Features and Quality of Life in Patients With Cancer???I

Abstract

The high incidence and the severe symptoms of cancer have a considerable effect on quality of life in patients. The relationship between quality of life in patients with cancer and treatment, early diagnosis, disease acceptance, pain, psychological distress, loss of organ, duration of disease, and caregivers was investigated. This study included 508 patients with cancer treated in either inpatient or outpatient clinics of 5 oncology centers in Ankara, Turkey, between August 1 998 and January 2000. Patients were selected by interviews. Data were collected by a questionnaire to determine disease features and to evaluate patients' quality of life. We found that several disease features, including treatment, early diagnosis, disease acceptance, pain, psychological distress, and caregivers, had an effect on patients' quality of life (P < 0.05), whereas loss of organ and duration of disease did not. The results of this study underline the significant effect of psychosocial care programs on quality of life. In the future, assessments of quality of life can help healthcare personnel to prepare psychosocial care programs.

Relationships between quality of life, spiritual well-being, and psychological adjustment styles for people living with leukaemia: An exploratory study

“…However, there is a paucity of quality-of-life research that focuses on leukaemia or associated haematological disorders (GastonJohansson & Foxall, 1997) despite results from recent empirical studies demonstrating that leukaemia patients report a lower quality of life than matched controls (Holzner et al, 2004). A lower quality of life is associated with psychological distress and, hence, being less able to accept the reality of disease (Isikhan et al, 2001). It also impacts negatively on sexual relationships, vocational and social adjustment, and psychological coping (Molassiotis & Morris, 1999).…”

“…In addition to the physical effects, patients also report that treatments result in psychological distress characterised by poor concentration and cognitive changes (Valentine & Meyers, 2001), feelings of helplessness (Perry, 2000), fear (Xuereb & Dunlop, 2003), depression and anxiety (Courneya, Keats, & Turner, 2000;Poulos, Gertz, Pankratz, & Post-White, 2001), and a marked deterioration in body image and sexual functioning caused by the side effects of treatments (Isikhan et al, 2001;Xuereb & Dunlop, 2003). Associated social factors include loss of employment, financial problems, social withdrawal, and family difficulties, and some patients and their families have to cope with the additional burden of geographical relocation from regional areas in order to receive specialist care in cities (McGrath, 2001).…”

The Relationship Between Sleep Disorders and Quality of Life in Rotating Shift Workers at a Textile Factory

“…Quality of life includes the difference and distance of physical, mental, emotional, and social condition of a person at the moment compared to the expectations and aspirations of his/her life (9). Given that sleep is a critical element affecting the health and quality of people's life, this study aimed at examining the relationship between sleep disorders in shift workers and their quality of life.…”

Effects of Stuttering on Quality of Life in Adults Who Stutter

“…Also, it is necessary to mention that most studies on QOL have been conducted on diseases, which deal with mortality or have deep impressions on the society such as cancers, diabetes, drug abuse etc. (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). However, it seems that no adequate studies have been performed on QOL in disorders and disabilities that do not lead to mortality (11)(12)(13)(14).…”