Subjective Well-being in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Colorectal Cancer: An Observational Study

Colorectal cancer is among the most common malignancies. With advancements in medical treatments, cancer survival rates have improved significantly. However, patients still encounter considerable unpredictable and uncontrollable life changes, which can negatively impact their subjective well-being.

To explore changes in the subjective well-being of patients newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer over time and identify the factors influencing these changes.

This study utilized an observational longitudinal design. Patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer (N = 117) who were scheduled for tumor resection surgery were recruited from the colon and rectal surgery department at a medical center in northern Taiwan. Data were collected using questionnaires distributed before surgery and 1 and 6 months after surgery. Demographic attributes, disease characteristics, symptom distress, disease uncertainty, coping behavior, and subjective well-being were measured.

Subjective well-being declined 1 month after surgery but improved by 6 months. Patients who experienced higher symptom distress, higher disease uncertainty, less use of approach-oriented coping behavior, and more use of avoidance-oriented coping behavior demonstrated low levels of subjective well-being.

Patients with low symptom distress, a greater sense of control over their disease and environment, and better coping skills demonstrated higher subjective well-being.

Nurses should identify sources of disease uncertainty in patients and offer clear, personalized disease information and professional support. Furthermore, guiding patients to adopt approach-oriented coping behavior and applying interventions to alleviate symptom distress may help enhance their subjective well-being.