Assessment of psychosocial aspects of patients with rectal cancer under chemotherapy in Baghdad city

Abstract

Objectives The study objectives are to determine and identify the association between the effect of chemotherapy upon psychological and
social aspects of the quality of life for patients with rectal cancer treated by chemotherapy and demographic characteristics including age, gender, housing, marital status, educational level, occupation and income.
Methods Quantitative design (a descriptive study): The study was conducted at the Medical City/Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Al-Kadhimiya Teaching Hospital and Radiation and Nuclear Medicine Hospital in Baghdad, starting from December 30, 2014 to February 15, 2015.To achieve the objectives of the study, according to special criteria, a non-probability (purposive) samples of (50) patient who reviewed the hospitals above to receive chemotherapy drugs to treatment disease. The data were collected by self-reporting of patients with rectal
cancer. Instrument validity was determined through content validity by a panel of experts. Reliability of the instrument was determined
through the use of Pearson correlation coefficient for the test–retest approach, which was 0.88. The analysis of data was performed through
the application of descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage and mean of score) and inferential statistics (Chi-square [χ2] test).
Results The results of the study indicated most of patients with rectal cancer have side effects of chemotherapy related to psychological and
social aspects through the increase significant of items related to side effects during assessment of these items, and there is no significant
association between the effect of chemotherapy upon quality of life for patients and gender, housing, occupation and income. While, there is significant relationship between the effect of chemotherapy upon the quality of life for patients and age, marital status and educational level.
Conclusion The researcher can conclude most of patients with rectal cancer have side effects of chemotherapy related to the psychological
and social aspects.