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A cross-sectional assessment of quality of life of colorectal cancer patients in Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

Objective

In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to describe the quality of life of Saudi colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and identify the factors that may further improve health care for CRC survivors in Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Methods

A total of 106 CRC patients from five different private and public tertiary level hospitals in Saudi Arabia participated in this study. CRC patient was interviewed by a trained researcher between September and December 2014. All respondents answered a three-part questionnaire which includes demographic data and a validated Arabic version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life.

Results

Participants had a mean score for global health of 67.1 (95 % CI 62.55–71.71). Among the five scales of quality of life, social functioning and functional scales of CRC patients scored the highest [Mean 83.49 (95 % CI 78.64–86.33)] while the lowest scored was emotional scales [66.9 (95 % CI 61.81–71.98)]. Insomnia was considered the most distressing symptom on the symptom scales. Using the disease-specific tool, it was found that sexual interest scored the highest. On the symptom scale, dissatisfaction with stoma care problems scored the highest.

Conclusion

Factors associated with a major reduction in all domains of quality of life included employment status and tumor location. This study identifies the factors and issues that affect the quality of life of CRC patients in KSA. Addressing these factors and issues may lessen the burden of cancer survivors in the KSA or may prolong their survival.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding this Research group NO (RG# 1435-024).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health Science, College of Applied Medical Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    K. M. Almutairi & J. M. Vinluan

  2. Medical Surgical Department, College of Nursing, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    E. Alhelih

  3. Clinical Laboratories Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    A. S. Al-Ajlan

Authors
  1. K. M. Almutairi
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  2. E. Alhelih
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  3. A. S. Al-Ajlan
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  4. J. M. Vinluan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. M. Almutairi.

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Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Conflict of interest

The authors certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript.

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Almutairi, K.M., Alhelih, E., Al-Ajlan, A.S. et al. A cross-sectional assessment of quality of life of colorectal cancer patients in Saudi Arabia. Clin Transl Oncol 18, 144–152 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-015-1346-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-015-1346-3

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