Investigating the Quality of Life and its Associated Factors in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Considering that colorectal cancer is one of the most common neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract and this disease has the significant impact on the quality of life (QoL) of patients. This study aimed to determine the QoL and its associated factors in these patients.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer registered in the cancer registration system of Isfahan province in 2015. For this purpose, demographic characteristics and two QoL questionnaires QOL-C29 and QOL-C30 were completed and assessed.

The mean QoL score in the patients was 54.61 ± 16.1, and life quality was satisfactory in 46 (11.5%) patients, moderate in 153 (38.3%), and poor in 201 (50.2%) individuals. The mean QoL scores in the functional and symptoms dimensions were 47.65 ± 17.6 and 44.89 ± 13.53, respectively. The QoL score did not differ significantly by gender (P > 0.05), but there were significant differences between age groups, ostomy, type of treatment, and disease stage (P < 0.05).

According to the results of this study, the QoL of patients with colorectal cancer is not desirable. Factors such as age, history of surgery, bearing a colostomy sac, and disease stage can affect the QoL, physical and psychological conditions of these patients. Therefore, considering supportive care for these patients to improve their individual and social QoL is of particular importance.