Quality of life in rectal cancer patients with permanent colostomy in Xi’an

Xiuxiu Yang, Qin Li, Haihong Zhao, Junhua Li, Jiaobo Duan, Dandan Wang, Ningning Fang, Ping Zhu, Jufang Fu

Abstract

Purposes: The aim of this study was to observe the quality of life (QOL) in rectal cancer patients with permanent colostomy in different periods after operation. Methods: A 1-,3-,6-month prospective study of QOL in 51 rectal cancer patients with permanent colostomy and 50 ones without permanent colostomy was assessed by using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QOL-30 and CR38 questionnaires. Results: The variation of QOL in different periods was “v” type. In the 1st postoperative month, these patients had the lowest quality of life scores, accompanied significantly varied functions and severe symptoms. Almost of all indexes of these patients had improved consistently in postoperative periods. The scores of global QOL even better than pre-operative level at 6th months post-operation, but the social function, body image, chemotherapy side effects and financial difficulties had not restored to the baseline level. Patients without permanent colostomy had a better score in most of categories of QOL-30 and CR38. Conclusions: The 1st postoperative month was crucial for patients’ recovery, in which we should pay great attention to these problems which relate to the recovery of rectal cancer patients with permanent colostomy.

Keywords: Quality of life, Rectal cancer, Permanent colostomy, EORTC QOL-30 and CR38 questionnaires

African Health sciences Vol 14 No. 1 March 2014