Well‐being and Its Relation to Coping Ability in Patients with Colo‐rectal and Gastric Cancer Before and After Surgery

Abstract

The aims of this study were, first, to describe and compare the perceived well-being and general health, symptoms and coping ability of a group of patients with colo-rectal and gastric cancer before and after surgery; secondly, to describe the patients' perceptions of the hospital stay and their difficulties after discharge from the hospital; and thirdly, to investigate a possible relationship between sense of coherence and well-being. Seventy-nine (36 men, 43 women) consecutively selected patients diagnosed with colo-rectal or gastric cancer participated in the study. The Health Index (HI), the symptom checklist, the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC scale), a study-specific questionnaire and a single item were used. Six weeks after surgery many of the cancer patients perceived that their well-being was poorer on the HI subscales energy, sleep and mobility than before. Bowel function had improved, and pain, which was a common symptom before surgery, was perceived as having lessened after surgery. Furthermore, the sense of coherence was shown to be related to the cancer patients' well-being as measured by the HI. Patients living with relatives rated their well-being as better than that of patients living alone. The problem areas identified after discharge concerned mobility, bowel function, fatigue, pain, nutrition, worry, difficulties in sleeping and problems with the wound. The instruments used in the study are seen as screening instruments to further structure the nursing-care plan, so that the patients' perceptions of the disease situation can also be taken into consideration.

Quality of life and colorectal cancer: a review

“…Patients who live alone report lower perceived well-being than those who live with family. 23,24 Patients report receiving most of their emotional and instrumental support from spouses and families. 6 While social support appears to be associated with better patient reported quality of life, further research is required to examine potential differential relations between types of social support (e.g.…”

“…Researchers define quality of life as a multidimensional concept encompassing an individual's perceived physical, psychosocial and emotional functioning. 7,14,23,26,[28][29][30]33,43,44 It also encompasses domains such as sexual functioning, spiritual well-being and vocational or role performance. 7,26,43,44 The World Health Organization (WHO) defines quality of life as "an individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns.…”

“…Of the 24 experimental studies reporting primary data, 15 were of a cross-sectional design, 5,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] six were prospective [21][22][23][24][25]45 and three were descriptive. 6,26,27 The other 17 articles comprised seven editorial or expert opinion pieces; [28][29][30][31][32][33][34] five papers describing the development and testing of quality of life measures; [35][36][37][38][39] two metaanalyses; 40,41 two reports based on secondary analysis of data from other studies; 42,43 and one literature review.…”

“…5,7,[9][10][11][12][13][14]16,18,19,[25][26][27]30,[32][33][34][35]37,39,[41][42][43]45 The remainder came from the Netherlands (n=4), 21,28,29,38 Australia (n=2), 31,36 Canada (n=3), 6,22,44 the UK (n=3), 15,17,40 Sweden (n=2) 23,24 and Israel (n=1). 8 One study collected data in 10 different countries.…”

Health-related quality of life after liver transplantation

“…Currently, there is a major interest in improving the quality of health care as well as in increasing the patient' s participation and cooperation in the health care environment. 4 In addition to the medical aspects of liver transplantation (LTX), psychosocial factors also have to be addressed. 3 LTX is an established therapy for end-stage liver disease and acute liver failure.…”