The Role of Socioeconomic Conditions in Shaping Multidimensional Quality of Life Outcomes for Hospitalized Cancer Patients
Increase in cancer incidences, morbidity and complications of cancer poses serious problemsfor India. It is reported that in an Indian context, the socio-demographic variables of patientand his family play significant role in all aspect of patient life, experience of suffering,caregiver burden, coping etc. Due to delayed diagnosis, financial problems and poor mentalhealth in patients with cancer, their quality of life is getting diminished with less socialcontact among patients. The objectives of the present study were to assess the Quality of Life(QOL) among people with cancer, to identify the relation between selected sociodemographicvariables and Quality of Life among people with cancer. Descriptive researchdesign was employed, and Study was conducted in an urban oncology center atTiruchirappalli, TamilNadu. Census techniques were adopted and all the eligible cancerpatients attending the center were recruited. Data were collected using WHOQOL 1995, andsemi structured interview schedule. Data was analyzed using Descriptive and inferentialstatistics like independent t test, chi-square test and one-way ANOVA. Majority of therespondents experience poor QOL in physical domain (60%), Psychological domain (56%),Distress-related domain (60%), Spiritual domain (54%). Ages, Number of children showedsignificant relationship with the Quality of Life among people with cancer.