Coping and Quality of Life in Turkish Women Living with Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> This study investigated the utilization of both problem and emotion focused coping strategiesand their association with aspects of quality of life among Turkish women with ovarian cancer undergoingchemotherapy. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: The convenience sample consisted of 228 patients in all disease stages.The data were collected using the brief COPE, QOL-Cancer patient tool, sociodemographic sheet, and medicalvariables were gathered from patients’ medical charts. <br/><b>Results</b>: Findings reveal that quality of life is moderatelyhigh for this group of cancer patients, despite some specific negative facets of the illness and treatment experience.Acceptance, emotional support and religion were the most frequently used problem-focused coping strategiesand self-distraction, venting and behavioral disengagement were the most frequently used emotion-focusedcoping strategies reported by patients. Overall quality of life and, particularly, psychological and spiritual wellbeingscores of younger patients were lower. Patients reported using significantly more problem-focused copingthan emotion-focused coping, and more problem-focused and less emotion-focused coping predicted greaterquality of life. Problem-focused coping was related to patients’ physical and spiritual well-being and emotionfocusedcoping was related inversely with psychological and social well-being. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Coping strategiesare influential in patient quality of life and their psychosocial adaptation to ovarian cancer. Psycho-oncologysupport programs are needed to help patients to frequent use of problem-focused coping and reduce emotionfocusedcoping strategies to improve overall quality of life.