Quality of Life of the Patients Receiving Anti-Cancer Chemotherapy at National Cancer Institute, Sri Lanka.

Abstract

Background: Administration of chemotherapy is beneficial in managing cancer, related adverse effects, fears, and psychological distress may negative contribute to Quality of Life (QoL) among patients with cancer. Objective: To assess the QoL and its associated factors among the patients undergone the anti cancer chemotherapy at the National Cancer Institute, Sri Lanka Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among randomly selected and volunteered 312 registered patients in the oncology clinic in 2023. Data was collected using a pre tested interviewer-administered questionnaire consisting of baseline characteristics and QoL. The QoL of was assessed using the validated Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The mean±SD age was 50.00±14.37 years. The majority were females (54.3%, n=174), Sinhalese (86.8%, n=275), employed (59%, n=187), and the major income source was family (78.2.%, n=248). A higher proportionate of patients have blood and lymphatic cancers (30.6%, n=97). The majority were receiving chemotherapy as their treatments (64.1%, n=200) and least proportionate were undergone surgeries (11.2%, n=35). Amongst those receiving chemotherapy, the majority underwent a chemotherapy cycle ranging from 1 to 3 sessions (85.8%, n=272). The FACT-G-QoL scores ranged from 23 to 99, with mean±SD scores for the four domains as follows: Physical well-being (18.7±5.4), social/family well-being (20.5±6.1), emotional well-being (16.2±4.7), and functional well-being (17.4±5.2). The age and gender were associated with QoL in one domain; emotional well-being (p=0.001 and p=0.002). Moreover, income status was associated with the physical well-being of the patients (p<0.001). In the contrary, education level was not associated with QoL in all four domains: physical, social-family, emotional and functional (p=0.568, p=0.267, p=0.509, p=0.435, respectively). Conclusion: Age and gender significantly influenced emotional well-being among cancer patients, while income status notably affected their physical well-being. Implementing strategies aimed at enhancing QoL among individuals with cancer is imperative.