A Study to Assess the Quality of Life and Its Clinical and Psychological Determinants among Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy at Selected Hospitals of Bagalkot
Authors: Ganiger Vishwanath , Kugali Shilpa N. , Natekar Deelip. S. 
Published: March 2022

The global cancer burden is estimated to have risen to 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths in 2018. One in 5 men and one in 6 women worldwide develop cancer during their lifetime, and one in 8 men and one in 11 women die from the disease. Worldwide, the total number of people who are alive within 5 years of a cancer diagnosis, called the 5-year prevalence, is estimated to be 43.8 million. The increasing cancer burden is due to several factors, including population growth and ageing as well as the changing prevalence of certain causes of cancer linked to social and economic development.
Methods: The research approach adopted in this present study is quantitative non experimental approach and the research design Descriptive Cross sectional Explorative design. 50 samples of cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy at selected hospitals of bagalkot, were selected by disproportionate stratified random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was developed to collect the demographic information, a structured questionnaire was developed to assess the level of quality of life, Pain, Nausea and Vomiting, Stress and Anxiety. The level of pain will be assessed with the use of a numeric pain scale. The nausea and vomiting will be measured by Standardised MASCC Antiemesis Tool (MAT), Stress will be measured by Cohen’s perceived stress scale. The degree of anxiety will be measured by Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS). The data collected and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: The level of knowledge regarding cancer among cancer patients reveals that, Most of patients (34%) had moderate QOL knowledge, 22% of them had high QOL knowledge, 40% of them had power QOL knowledge. The level of knowledge regarding cancer among cancer patients reveals that, Most of patients (44%) had worst possible pain, 40% of them had moderate pain, 16% of them had mild pain, 0% them had no pain. The level of nausea and vomiting of cancer among cancer patients reveals that, Most of patients (64%) had high nausea and vomiting, 26% of them had moderate nausea and vomiting, 6% had low nausea and vomiting, 4% of them had minimal nausea and vomiting. The level of stress level among cancer patients reveals that, Most of patients (58%) had high stress level, 28% of them had moderate stress level, 14% of them had low stress level. The level of anxiety regarding cancer among cancer patients reveals that, Most of patients (40%) had mild to moderate anxiety level, 30% of them had moderate to severe anxiety level, 24% of them had extreme anxiety level, 6% of them had normal range level. Assessment of the level of Quality of life of the cancer patients reveals that majority The level of knowledge regarding cancer among cancer patients reveals that, Most of patients (38%) had moderate QOL knowledge, 22% of them had high QOL knowledge, 40% of them had power QOL knowledge. The level of quality of life of cancer among cancer patients reveals that, Most of patients (44%) had worst possible pain, 40% of them had moderate pain, 16% of them had mild pain, 0% them had no pain. The level of quality of life of cancer among cancer patients reveals that, Most of patients (64%) had high nausea and vomiting, 26% of them had moderate nausea and vomiting, 6% had low nausea and vomiting, 4% of them had minimal nausea and vomiting. The level of quality of life of cancer among cancer patients reveals that, Most of patients (58%) had high stress level, 28% of them had moderate stress level, 14% of them had low stress level. The level of knowledge regarding cancer among cancer patients reveals that, Most of patients (40%) had mild to moderate anxiety level, 30% of them had moderate to severe anxiety level, 24% of them had extreme anxiety level, 6% of them had normal range level. The mean, SD, and mean percentage of knowledge scores of cancer patients reveals that, The total mean percentage of Physical well being was 20.6%, mean 103.71 and SD 38.25. The total mean percentage of social well being was 21.2%, mean 106.28 and SD 33.50. The total mean percentage of emotional well being was 22%, mean 110.66 and SD 34.45. The total mean percentage of functional well being was 22.2%, mean 111.28 and SD 37.05. The mean, SD, and mean percentage of knowledge scores of cancer patients reveals that, The total mean percentage of numeric pain scale was 30.2%, mean 151 and SD 42.05. The mean, SD, and mean percentage of knowledge scores of cancer patients reveals that, The total mean percentage of MASCC antiemesis scale was 91.1%, mean 45.5 and SD 8.33. The mean, SD, and mean percentage of knowledge scores of cancer patients reveals that, The total mean percentage of Perceived stress scale was 11.2%, mean 56 and SD 14.75. The mean, SD, and mean percentage of knowledge scores of cancer patients reveals that, The total mean percentage of Zung-self rating scale was 20.4%, mean 102.78 and SD 44.12.
Conclusion: Finding shows that, there is significant difference in knowledge especially cancer patient who are fighting with cancer cells in their body showing maximum symptoms related to adverse effects of treatment.

Keywords: Quality of life, Clinical and psychological determinants, Cancer Patients, Pain, Stress, Nausea and vomiting, Anxiety.