Quality of life in gynaecologic cancer subjects attending a tertiary care centre
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20171777Keywords:
Gynaecological cancer, Quality of life, WHOQOL-BREFAbstract
Background: As newer treatment modalities improve survival; quality of life issues takes on increasing importance for survivors. An adequate knowledge is required for psychosocial interventions and designing programs aimed at improving the quality of life of the cancer patients. The purpose of the study is to assess quality of life among gynaecological cancer subjects and its association with duration since diagnosis, type of cancer, mode of treatment and socio-demographic variables.
Methods: This is an interview based cross sectional study involving 131 patients diagnosed to have gynaecological cancer who were evaluated using WHOQOL-BREF Questionnaire. The gynaecological and socio-demographic data was analysed for any significant difference in QOL scores using one-way ANOVA.
Results: Social domain scored high with median score 50 ± 22.82. Environmental domain scored least with median score 28 ± 24.91. Based on domain scores it was found that only 2.3% subjects had better quality of life. Physical (55.7 ± 7.43) and psychological (57.95 ± 22.85) domain mean score was statistically significantly higher among subjects with cancer for more than 12 months. Subjects who had radiotherapy and chemotherapy scored least (44.52 ± 9.8) and subjects who had surgery and chemotherapy scored highest (59.43 ± 8.8) in physical domain.
Conclusions: As cancer incidence is increasing and post treatment survival is improving among cancer patients, two factors are gaining importance. One is early detection and prevention of cancer and the other is improving quality of life of survivors. In clinical practice the QOL instruments may be used with other forms of assessment, giving valuable information that can indicate areas in which a person is most affected and help the practitioner in making the best choices in patient care.
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