Comparision Quality of Life of Turkish Cancer Patients and Their Family Caregivers

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients and their familycaregivers and determine associations. <br/><b>Methods</b>: A total of 93 paired patients and caregivers from an outpatientchemotherapy unit of the oncology units were recruited at a large university hospital in İzmir, all completing theQuality of Life Scale (QoLS). <br/><b>Results</b>: The mean age of patients was 45.2 years, and of their family caregiverswas 40.5. The results indicated that the patients perceived a poorer quality of life than their family caregivers.There was a middle and positive correlation between the social participation and work performance dimensionsof patients’ QoL and social participation and work performance dimension of family caregivers’ QoL (r =0.273,p< 0.01). The study revealed that the gender, education level, employment and marital status were not statisticallysignificant factors affecting the patients’ quality of life (p> 0.05). Caregivers’ employment status was found tohave an affect on their quality of life (p < 0.05). <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Cancer affects not only the patients but also theirfamily caregivers. Both should be taught communication skills, financial planning and distress managementskills and be given spiritual support to decrease effects of cancer on their quality of life.