Psychosocial factors determining quality of life among cancer patients in Nepal.
ABSTRACT: The cancer disease is on the rise in Nepal but lacks exact data to estimate its burden in society and the psychosocial suffering of the patients. The cancer patients are being intervened with varieties of medical treatment in Nepal but growing literatures indicate that single (medical) tr...
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| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
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c2011.
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| Online Access: | Visit NHRC Library |
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| Summary: | ABSTRACT: The cancer disease is on the rise in Nepal but lacks exact data to estimate its burden in society and the psychosocial suffering of the patients. The cancer patients are being intervened with varieties of medical treatment in Nepal but growing literatures indicate that single (medical) treatment approach is not adequate. It is important to look into the other side of the treatment. The social and emotional impact of the disease, in Nepal, are not seriously examined, and attended leaving the patients, families and friends to cope, often ill-equipped to deal with the illness and unfamiliar with assistance and resources. Cancer patients are forced unintentionally to experience personal crisis affecting their psychological and social integrity in thought, feeling, and interpersonal relationship and behavior, increasing psychosocial problems and endangering one's sense of self and to deal with health problem. Without psychosocial support, people feebly struggle, feel isolated in coping with living and sense of dying issues, accentuating vulnerability and affecting quality and quantity of their lives. In general, seriousness of the diagnosis, strictness of the treatment procedure and specific psychosocial reactions of the ill person are the main objectives, which refers to the patient's ability to enjoy normal life activities. A methodological triangulation approach was used to assess the demographics, disease characteristics and psychosocial factors to answer the research questions and see the relation with quality of life. the importance of assessing the psychosocial factors both positive and negative and quality of life of cancer patients may 'generate awareness of inner world and understanding of patient, the nature and level of social support, enhancement of coping strategies and facilitating re-adjustment. Parametric and non-parametric statistical tests were used to analyze the data and draw conclusion for study. Present study was conducted among 300 Nepalese cancer patients from hospitals as well as from their door-steps. The study covered 18 to 80 years old cancer patients, majority (64.4%) of them were female, married, illiterate and from low socioeconomic status. Majority of the samples were stage III and IV cancer, receiving multiple modalities of treatment and had financial problem for treatment. Quantitative result revealed that duration of diagnosis ranges from 2 to 72 months. This study also revealed that majority of research participants had less than one fourth (22.5%) psychosocial adjustment factors such as perceiving high of level of social support, self-esteem and coping. Majority of the samples were suffering from anxiety (67.1%) and depression (70.9%). there was significant statistical association between educational status and psychological domain of QOL, gender and social relationship domain of QOL, stages of cancer and quality of life and its environment domain too. Role in the family and modalities of treatment were not associated with quality of life. Non- linear relationship revealed that coping was positively correlated with quality of life all its domains. Social support and self-esteem were negatively correlated with quality of life and all its domains. anxiety and depression was inversely correlated with environment domain of life among cancer patients in Nepal. On the basis of both qualitative and quantitative result, this study concluded that psychosocial factors determine the quality of life of the cancer patients in Nepal. Social support and coping were proved as strong predictors for quality of life. On the other hand, qualitative data revealed that the young aged, educated, from low socioeconomic status and with a longer duration of diagnosis required additional care to improve quality of life. Emotional/informational social support, especially from close persons (spouse/ relatives/ friends), positive attitude of providers, willpower, engagement coping, lessening the symptoms of anxiety and depression are essential components of quality of life. Psychological aspect of cancer can be strengthened by psychosocial care and social aspects of cancer patients can be empowered by psychoeducation . Special training to the health care providers is required to improve the quality of life of cancer patients in Nepal. |
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| Item Description: | Thesis Report. |
| Physical Description: | xv, 202p. ; |