The Association of Quality of Life with Cancer Characteristics and Demographic Data in Cancer Patients

In recent decades، cancer patient’s quality of life has been paid attention by clinicians and researchers، due to their physical and psychological conditions. The concept of quality of life and its association with cancer characteristics and demographic data is considered as a strong parameters in order to guide، protect and promote health and wellbeing of patients in different culture and communities. Threfore، studies in this field will obtain valuable information for nurses and lead to richness of health interventions. The present study was conducted to examine the quality of life and its relationship with cancer characteristics and demographic data in cancer patients referred to the oncology hospital، Isfahan University of Medical Sciences، Iran. A total of 315 hospitalized patients with different types of cancer participated in the study. A questionnaire that contained 3 parts (demographic information، disease characteristic and standard SF-36 questionnaire) was used for data collection. The data were analyzed with 99% confidence using SPSS software version 18. The majority of subjects'' quality of life was moderate (63. 17%). Results showed that there was a significant statistical association between patients'' quality of life and cancer type as well as pain related cancer (P < 0. 05). There was also a significant correlation between cancer patients'' quality of life and chemotherapy sessions; patients whom received more chemotherapy sessions، had better quality of life. There was no significant association between patients'' quality of life and demographic variables and disease characteristics such as age، gender، employment status، acceptance or denial of illness، family size، cancer stage and duration of time spent from diagnosis. There was a significant association between cancer patients'' quality of life and marital status (P = 0. 018)، monthly income (P < 0. 001) as well as educational level (P = 0. 004). Since there was a significant relationship between cancer patients'' quality of life and some characteristics of cancer and demographic parameters، paying attention to these issues by health team in order to improve their quality of life is very important. The role of oncology nurses should be noted as they have an important role in diagnosis، treatment and care of cancer patients. It is suggested that nurses should be educated about the factors affecting quality of life.