The relationship between quality of life and sex role of women with gynecological cancers undergoing brachytherapy

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to analyze the relationship between the quality of life and sex roles of women diagnosed with cancer and undergoing brachytherapy. Methods The research is a cross-sectional descriptive study. The sample of the study included 116 women over 35 years old who were diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer and underwent intracavitary brachytherapy at the Radiation Oncology Department of a university hospital. Personal information form, SF-36 the Quality of Life Scale, and BEM Sex Role Inventory were used in the study. The researcher collected the data through face-to-face interview. The data were collected in the nurses’ room after 3 different brachytherapy treatments that patients received weekly. Results It was found that the average score of the physical functioning subscale was 32.80 ± 24.33, the average score of role physical was 15.43 ± 28.78, the average score of role emotional was 17.81 ± 28.96, the average score of vitality was 39.13 ± 16.12, the average score of social functioning was 43.53 ± 20.55, the score average of pain was 50.0 ± 20.09, the average score of general health was 42.67 ± 14.61, and the general health of mental health was 55.86 ± 16.12. In the BEM sex roles scale, the average score of BEM femininity was 105.56 ± 13.95, and the average score of BEM masculinity was 80.61 ± 12.77. In our study, a very low, negative, and significant relationship was determined between the role of femininity and emotional role limitation, physical functionality, social functionality, and general health perception in the women undergoing brachytherapy (p < 0.05). Conclusions Based on the findings of the present study, we can state that an increase in the “role of femininity” in women undergoing brachytherapy was effective in the decrease in the quality of lives of women. It can be claimed that the results will be a guidance for the nurses who will play an important role in increasing the quality of lives of the women undergoing brachytherapy.