Relationship between QOL and Coping Behaviors for Prostatic Cancer Patients’ Dysfunction during the First Postoperative Year

Abstract

Abstract

Objective: To clarify the relationship between QOL and coping behaviors for prostatic cancer patients’ voiding and sexual dysfunction during their first postoperative year.

Methods: Subjects were a convenience sample 76 men who underwent total prostatectomy. Data was generated from self-administered questionnaires.

Results: Among the subjects (mean age: 65.9 years), 78.9% had voiding dysfunction, 90.8% had sexual dysfunction and 69.7% had both voiding and sexual dysfunction. Significant positive correlations were observed between: (1) “addressing problems” (coping behavior) and two QOL subscales [(family social aspect (rs=0.44, p<0.01) and functional aspect (rs=0.35, p<0.01)]; (2) “use of external resources” and family social aspect (rs=0.26, p<0.05) and psychological aspect (rs=0.25, p<0.05) and (3) “active change of pace” and family social aspect (rs=0.34, p<0.01) and functional aspect (rs=0.25, p<0.05). Furthermore, significant inverse correlations were observed between: “addressing problems” and physical aspect (rs=-0.29, p<0.01); “self control” and physical aspect (rs=-0.31, p<0.01) and “manifest negative feelings” and functional aspect (rs=-0.40, p<0.01).

Conclusions: The relationship between QOL and coping behaviors in patients who underwent total prostatectomy and experienced postoperative dysfunction suggests the necessity of providing support for strengthening the coping behaviors of patients facing postoperative dysfunction in order to improve their QOL. More explicitly, it is important to provide support for the following: improving skills for interacting with various types of people in order to solve problems; improving skills for selecting various solutions that are available externally and encouraging a change of pace and managing complications that impact postoperative dysfunction.