Factors influencing Patient’s Quality of Life (QoL) Undergoing Cancer Treatment- a Descriptive Exploratory study

Main Article Content

Phuntsok Dolma
Barkha Devi
Champa Sharma

Abstract

Background & Objectives:: Cancer is the major health problem in developed and developing
countries.With the advent of treatment like chemotherapy and radiotherapy, survival rates of many
cancers have increased, but patient may experience side effects from the disease itself or from treatment
which can eventually hinder patient’s quality of life. The present study was planned to assess the
quality of life among cancer patient undergoing cancer treatment in selected hospitals of Gangtok,
East Sikkim. Methods: Investigator adopted the descriptive exploratory research design, where 100
cancer patients, within the age group of 18 years or above, either hospitalized or attending day care
services and undergoing chemotherapy were selected through purposive sampling technique. The data
was collected through english version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer
(EORTC C-30) for which validity and reliability was established. Results: Majority (42%) of the
cancer patients were in the age group of ≥59 years and 89% had received chemotherapy, ranging from
0 to 3 cycles (39%). Majority diagnosed with carcinoma of the gastro intestinal tract (45%) followed
by reproductive tract (30%). The cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment had average quality of
life. General health/quality of life was significantly different depending on age, place of habitat, therapy
history, type of chemotherapy received (p< 0.05), functional quality of life with type of family, type of
chemotherapy (p< 0.05), symptom-related quality of life with marital status, educational status, type of
family and diagnosis of site (p< 0.05) and financial difficulty with sex of the cancer patients (p< 0.05).
Conclusions: This study shows cancer patient had average quality of life. Thus is necessary to identify
factors influencing quality of life among cancer patients to increase the effects of intervention to reduce
helplessness and explaining power to improve health promotion behavior.

Article Details

How to Cite
Factors influencing Patient’s Quality of Life (QoL) Undergoing Cancer Treatment- a Descriptive Exploratory study. (2021). International Journal of Nursing Education, 14(1), 128-137. https://doi.org/10.37506/ijone.v14i1.17766
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Articles
Author Biographies

Phuntsok Dolma

MSc Nursing, Clinical Instructor, Sikkim Government College of Nursing, Gangtok, Sikkim, India

Barkha Devi

MSc Nursing, Assistant Professor,  Sikkim Manipal College of Nursing, Sikkim Manipal University, Gangtok, Sikkim, India

Champa Sharma

MSc Nursing, Professor, Sikkim Manipal College of Nursing, Sikkim Manipal
University, Gangtok, Sikkim, India

How to Cite

Factors influencing Patient’s Quality of Life (QoL) Undergoing Cancer Treatment- a Descriptive Exploratory study. (2021). International Journal of Nursing Education, 14(1), 128-137. https://doi.org/10.37506/ijone.v14i1.17766