Identification of Factors that İnfluence the Quality of Life of Adolescent Cancer Survivors

OpenAlex İngilizce

This research is a descriptive study, with a view to identify the factors affecting the quality of life (QOL) of adolescent cancer survivors. The sample included 90 adolescents (13–18 years old) with cancer who had completed their treatment in two university and two state hospitals. A questionnaire which included the Turkish version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 4.0 (PedsQL™) was used as a data collection tool. For evaluation of the data, numerical and proportional distribution, independent double group t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used. In the study, 43.3% of the adolescents were female. Mean age was 15.98±1.60 years. First diagnostic age was 11.18±3.80 years. The difference between the mean adolescent physical health summary score, emotional functioning, social functioning, school functioning and the mean total scale scores was not found to be significant by sex, the mothers’ educational levels, mothers’ employment status and fathers’ employment status (p>0.05). A significant difference was observed between mean psychosocial health summary score and adolescents’ treatment and diagnosis (p<0.05). In conclusion, it was determined that the QOL of the adolescents was effected in the post-treatment period. It is strongly advised that necessary nursing interventions should be planned and applied to increase the QOL of the adolescents who have completed their treatment.