Quality of life in colorectal cancer outpatients

Abstract

This study aimed to longitudinally analyze Quality of Life and its association with physical and psychosocial factors of patients with colorectal cancer.

Fifty-one outpatients undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer were elected for convenience and were evaluated twice during their treatment. Evaluations were performed for Quality of Life, as well as socio-demographic, diagnostic and therapeutic variables. Afterwards, descriptive and inferential statistical analysis were performed, establishing the appropriate comparisons.

The results identified a characteristic profile with a relatively homogeneous distribution: 51% were men with an average age of 60.1 years old (SD = 9.3 years) at the baseline. In general, concerning psychosocial aspects, there was a higher Quality of Life than other studies with the same population, in addition to a significant improvement over time in all subscales of performance and symptoms. Furthermore, it was evidenced that the physical aspects considerably influenced the self-report of the Quality of Life.

The recognition of the interferences that physical aspects pose to Quality of Life, should permeate the practices of teams involved in the care of these patients.