Actual Status of and Factors Related to the Quality of Life of Patients in the Recovery Phase after Surgical Procedures for Gynecological Cancer

Abstract

Abstract

Objective：To investigate the actual status of and factors related to the quality of life（QOL）of patients in the recovery phase after surgical procedures for gynecological cancer.

Method：We conducted a survey among a group of 112 outpatients with gynecological cancer. The survey comprised questions related to postoperative complications, the satisfaction level in the patient’s marital relationship, and social support received. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General（FACT‒G）, the short depression inventory, and the simplified menopausal index were also a part of the survey for assessing QOL levels. Descriptive statistics were obtained from the analysis and a comparison and correlation analysis was performed for FACT‒G results. Subsequently, a multiple regression analysis was performed for the items that were correlated.

Results：Of the 112 patients, 110 responded to the survey（98.2％）. The average FACT‒G score was 86.4±11.6. The FACT‒G score was significantly related to the relationship of the patients with their husband or partner（p＜0.05）, fecal excretion disorders（p＜0.05）, urination trouble（p＜0.05）, economic stability（p＜0.001）, and the change in social role（p＜0.05）. Multiple regression analysis revealed that social support（β＝0.42, p＜0.001）had a positive effect on QOL while depression（β＝0.51, p＜0.001）had a negative effect on QOL.

Conclusion：To improve QOL of patients in the recovery phase after surgical procedures for gynecological cancer, we suggest that a detailed analysis of the social support received by these patients and their depression levels is essential in addition to provision of nursing care support.