Exploratory study on diagnosed cancers and quality of life of hospitalized patients

Context: Cancer is one of the main causes of death and disability throughout the world and leaves different effects on various dimensions of physical, psychological, sexual, social, and economic functions of human life. 

Aims: The present study was conducted in 2017 with the aim to examine the quality of life of hospitalized patients with cancer in Arak, Iran. 

Setting and Design: The present cross-sectional descriptive analytical study was conducted in Khonsari Hospital in Arak (From May to October 2017). 

Materials and Methods: Three hundred and twenty cancer patients selected using census sampling method. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire and the standard quality of life assessment questionnaire European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30. Inclusion criteria were hospitalization, 3 months after diagnosis, and patients have no metastasis.

Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical tests such as Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and t-test were used. Significant level was considered as α = 0.5. 

Results: Types of cancer included 31.3% (100 patients) leukemia, 20.9% (67 patients) gastrointestinal cancer, 14.1% (45 patients) breast and ovarian cancer, 8.8% (28 patients) lymphoma, 6.3% (20 patients) lung cancer, 5.3% (17 patients) skeletal cancer, 4.4% (14 patients) renal cancer, 4.7% (15 patients) skin cancer, and 4.4% (14 patients) head-and-neck cancer. Mean quality of life of participating patients was 64.46 ± 14.48. The highest (73.21 ± 21.57) and the lowest (55.4 ± 12.56) mean score of quality of life belonged to patients with head-and-neck cancer and skin cancer, respectively. In general, patients performed better in physical dimension and poorer in social dimension. Patients’ quality of life was found significantly related to age, place of residence, marital status, and education level (P = 0.0001). Fatigue was the most common nagging symptom in both sexes, with slightly higher level in men compared to women (P = 0.8). 

Conclusion: The mean quality of life of the patients was good. However, patients performed poorly in social dimension. To enhance their social performance, plans will, therefore, need to be developed and implemented.