Quality of Life in Chinese Rectal Cancer Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Peng Junjie, Shi Debing, Goodman Karyn A, Goldstein David, Xiao Changchun, Guan Zuqing, Cai Sanjun
Primary Institution: Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
Hypothesis
The study aims to assess the quality of life in curatively treated patients with rectal cancer using specific questionnaires.
Conclusion
Bowel dysfunction, including diarrhea and fecal incontinence, significantly affects the quality of life in rectal cancer patients, regardless of treatment type.
Supporting Evidence
- Quality of life was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR29 questionnaires.
- Diarrhea and fecal incontinence were significantly higher in patients receiving radiotherapy.
- Stoma patients reported more embarrassment with bowel movements compared to nonstoma patients.
Takeaway
This study looked at how happy and healthy people feel after treatment for rectal cancer, finding that some problems like diarrhea can make them feel worse.
Methodology
Patients with stage I-III rectal cancer were treated curatively and assessed for quality of life using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR29 questionnaires.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the single-institution study design and the self-reported nature of quality of life assessments.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on early impacts on quality of life and did not assess long-term effects.
Participant Demographics
The mean age of participants was 57 years, with a majority being male (57.1%).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.002 for fecal incontinence, p = 0.001 for diarrhea
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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