EPIDEMIOLOGIC RESEARCH REGARDING THE IMPACT OF RISK FACTORS ON HEALTH-RELEATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN CANCER PATIENTS

Authors

  • Elenis MANAFU University Transylvania – Braşov
  • Codruta NEMET University Transylvania – Braşov
  • Irina JARI University of Medicine and Pharmacy”Grigore T. Popa”-Iaşi

Abstract

Aim: To assess the health-related quality of life in cancer patients and the relative and attributable risks for the degree of dissatisfaction related to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Material and methods: Our research included 128 cancer patients treated at the Surgical Clinic II of the Iasi Regional Cancer Institute between December 2014 and June 2015. Thus, data were collected by using an inquiry sheet derived from the SF-36 questionnaire, which included closed and open questions about the quality of life, socio-demographic data and such risk factors as smoking, alcohol use, related diseases and risk behaviours. Results: The patient sample had a mean age of 60.85 years, 51.6% of them lived in urban areas, were high school graduates, and of low economic status. Discussion: As to the behavioural risk factors we found that over 80% of the patients were non-smokers, did not use alcohol, and were normal weighted. Pain was experienced by 70.7% of the cancer patients and depression affected 74% of the study cases. Patients were asked to self-assess their own health status on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (the best health status). Conclusions: Our study showed a poor health status (mean score 65) in the study cancer patients. The relative and attributable risks for the degree of dissatisfaction related to intrinsic and extrinsic factors were calculated and ranked factors in decreasing order: smoking, depression, pain, alcohol use, male gender, obesity, low income. We found that prolonged suffering affects the psyche and causes depression and that the patients of low financial status, most of them living in villages, have difficulty in accessing medical care. The obtained data about the quality of life in relation with risk factors are in agreement with the data in the literature.

Author Biographies

  • Elenis MANAFU, University Transylvania – Braşov

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Epidemiology

  • Codruta NEMET, University Transylvania – Braşov

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Epidemiology

  • Irina JARI, University of Medicine and Pharmacy”Grigore T. Popa”-Iaşi

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Surgery

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Additional Files

Published

2016-06-30

Issue

Vol. 120 No. 2 (2016): The Medical-Surgical Journal

Section

PREVENTIVE MEDICINE - LABORATORY

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