Quality of Life Among Cancer Patients

Overview

Journal Indian J Palliat Care

Specialty Critical Care

Date 2017 Nov 11

PMID 29123353

Citations 100

Authors

Malathi G Nayak

Anice George

M S Vidyasagar

Stanley Mathew

Sudhakar Nayak

Baby S Nayak

Y N Shashidhara

Asha Kamath

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer is a leading cause of death. People living with cancer experience a variety of symptoms. Quality of life (QOL) is a major concern of patients with terminal cancer. Symptoms affect their QOL. Management of symptoms improves distress and QOL.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the QOL among cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: A survey was conducted among 768 cancer patients selected by a convenient sampling technique. Data was collected from cancer patients by interview technique using structured and validated interviewed schedule.

Results: Out of 768 cancer patients, 30.2% patients were in the age group of 51-60 years, majority with head-and-neck cancer (40.1%), and 57.7% had stage III disease. QOL of majority of patients was influenced by their symptoms. 82.3% of them had low QOL scores.

Conclusion: Cancer patients experienced many symptoms that affected their QOL. There is a need to develop interventions for effective management of symptoms that will empower the patients to have a greater sense of control over their illness and treatment and to improve the QOL.

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