OBJECTIVE: To evaluate quality of life and the main demographic, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics of patients with colorectal cancer. In addition, the objective of the study was to examine the relationship between those characteristics and quality of life. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a specialized oncology center in Ribeirão Preto. The sample consisted of 22 patients with colorectal cancer who were receiving complementary therapy. Data were collected from July 2006 through September 2007. The quality of life Core-30 Questionnaire was used to measure quality of life. RESULTS: Patients had a satisfactory quality of life score (mean = 79.13). The most affected domains were emotional functioning, pain, insomnia, and fatigue. Women had worse scores on emotional and cognitive functioning, pain, insomnia, fatigue, constipation, and loss of appetite. Patients who were receiving radiotherapy had a worse pain score. Patients who had no symptoms during chemotherapy had higher scores on quality of life. CONCLUSION: The quality of life scores in this sample of patients was satisfactory. Lower quality of life scores were observed among women, and patients who were receiving radiotherapy and/or had side effects of chemotherapy.
Quality of life; Colorectal neoplasms; Oncologic nursing
