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Determinants of Quality of Life Among Gynaecological Cancer Patients on Follow Up at a Referral Hospital in Kenya

Received: 9 May 2015     Accepted: 23 May 2015     Published: 9 June 2015
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Abstract

Various factors influence the quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients. This study sought to determine the predictors and factors associated with quality of life among gynaecological cancer patients on follow up at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out between April and June 2014, involving both outpatient and inpatient gynaecological cancer patients receiving care at the palliative care unit. A structured questionnaire adopting the Missoula Vitas Quality of Life Index was used to collect information on socio-demographics, clinical characteristics and their perceptions about quality of life. The association between socio-demographic and clinical factors with QOL was analyzed using one way ANOVA and linear regression analysis to identify the predictors of QOL. A total of 108 study patients were interviewed. Their mean age was 48 years with a range of 18 to 72 years. Age, level of education, marital status, occupation and monthly income were the socio-demographic factors significantly associated with QOL scores, (p<0.05). The patients’ type of cancer, type of cancer treatment, duration of illness and palliative care services were the clinical characteristics significantly associated with QOL scores, (p<0.05). Age, level of education, occupation, average monthly income, type of cancer treatment, duration of illness and type of cancer were the independent predictors of QOL. Vulnerable patients were those who were less educated, peasant farmers or casual workers, had a long duration of illness and underwent combined therapy. Age, education, occupation, income, type of cancer, type of cancer treatment and duration of illness were the determinants of quality of life among gynaecological cancer patients in the study. Sufficient attention should be given to the more vulnerable gynaecological cancer patients in identifying and addressing their specific needs by the palliative care team.

Published in American Journal of Nursing Science (Volume 4, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajns.20150403.22
Page(s) 127-130
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Determinants, Quality of Life, Gynaecological Cancers, Socio-demographic Factors, Clinical Factors

References
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  • APA Style

    Isaac Machuki Ogoncho, Blasio Osogo Omuga, Sabina Wakasiaka, Margaret Muiva. (2015). Determinants of Quality of Life Among Gynaecological Cancer Patients on Follow Up at a Referral Hospital in Kenya. American Journal of Nursing Science, 4(3), 127-130. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20150403.22

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    ACS Style

    Isaac Machuki Ogoncho; Blasio Osogo Omuga; Sabina Wakasiaka; Margaret Muiva. Determinants of Quality of Life Among Gynaecological Cancer Patients on Follow Up at a Referral Hospital in Kenya. Am. J. Nurs. Sci. 2015, 4(3), 127-130. doi: 10.11648/j.ajns.20150403.22

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    AMA Style

    Isaac Machuki Ogoncho, Blasio Osogo Omuga, Sabina Wakasiaka, Margaret Muiva. Determinants of Quality of Life Among Gynaecological Cancer Patients on Follow Up at a Referral Hospital in Kenya. Am J Nurs Sci. 2015;4(3):127-130. doi: 10.11648/j.ajns.20150403.22

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajns.20150403.22,
      author = {Isaac Machuki Ogoncho and Blasio Osogo Omuga and Sabina Wakasiaka and Margaret Muiva},
      title = {Determinants of Quality of Life Among Gynaecological Cancer Patients on Follow Up at a Referral Hospital in Kenya},
      journal = {American Journal of Nursing Science},
      volume = {4},
      number = {3},
      pages = {127-130},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajns.20150403.22},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20150403.22},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajns.20150403.22},
      abstract = {Various factors influence the quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients. This study sought to determine the predictors and factors associated with quality of life among gynaecological cancer patients on follow up at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out between April and June 2014, involving both outpatient and inpatient gynaecological cancer patients receiving care at the palliative care unit. A structured questionnaire adopting the Missoula Vitas Quality of Life Index was used to collect information on socio-demographics, clinical characteristics and their perceptions about quality of life. The association between socio-demographic and clinical factors with QOL was analyzed using one way ANOVA and linear regression analysis to identify the predictors of QOL. A total of 108 study patients were interviewed. Their mean age was 48 years with a range of 18 to 72 years. Age, level of education, marital status, occupation and monthly income were the socio-demographic factors significantly associated with QOL scores, (p<0.05). The patients’ type of cancer, type of cancer treatment, duration of illness and palliative care services were the clinical characteristics significantly associated with QOL scores, (p<0.05). Age, level of education, occupation, average monthly income, type of cancer treatment, duration of illness and type of cancer were the independent predictors of QOL. Vulnerable patients were those who were less educated, peasant farmers or casual workers, had a long duration of illness and underwent combined therapy. Age, education, occupation, income, type of cancer, type of cancer treatment and duration of illness were the determinants of quality of life among gynaecological cancer patients in the study. Sufficient attention should be given to the more vulnerable gynaecological cancer patients in identifying and addressing their specific needs by the palliative care team.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Determinants of Quality of Life Among Gynaecological Cancer Patients on Follow Up at a Referral Hospital in Kenya
    AU  - Isaac Machuki Ogoncho
    AU  - Blasio Osogo Omuga
    AU  - Sabina Wakasiaka
    AU  - Margaret Muiva
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajns.20150403.22
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5753
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    AB  - Various factors influence the quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients. This study sought to determine the predictors and factors associated with quality of life among gynaecological cancer patients on follow up at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out between April and June 2014, involving both outpatient and inpatient gynaecological cancer patients receiving care at the palliative care unit. A structured questionnaire adopting the Missoula Vitas Quality of Life Index was used to collect information on socio-demographics, clinical characteristics and their perceptions about quality of life. The association between socio-demographic and clinical factors with QOL was analyzed using one way ANOVA and linear regression analysis to identify the predictors of QOL. A total of 108 study patients were interviewed. Their mean age was 48 years with a range of 18 to 72 years. Age, level of education, marital status, occupation and monthly income were the socio-demographic factors significantly associated with QOL scores, (p<0.05). The patients’ type of cancer, type of cancer treatment, duration of illness and palliative care services were the clinical characteristics significantly associated with QOL scores, (p<0.05). Age, level of education, occupation, average monthly income, type of cancer treatment, duration of illness and type of cancer were the independent predictors of QOL. Vulnerable patients were those who were less educated, peasant farmers or casual workers, had a long duration of illness and underwent combined therapy. Age, education, occupation, income, type of cancer, type of cancer treatment and duration of illness were the determinants of quality of life among gynaecological cancer patients in the study. Sufficient attention should be given to the more vulnerable gynaecological cancer patients in identifying and addressing their specific needs by the palliative care team.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Surgical Unit, Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kisii, Kenya

  • School of Nursing Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

  • School of Nursing Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

  • School of Nursing Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

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