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Factors Influencing the Quality of Life in Thai Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy during COVID-19 Pandemic

*Supawan Jaiboon orcid  -  Department of Medical and Surgical Nursing, Kuakarun Faculty of Nursing, Navamindradhiraj University, Thailand
Arveewan Vittayatigonnasak  -  Chemotherapy Unit, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Thailand
Open Access Copyright (c) 2023 Nurse Media Journal of Nursing
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

Background: The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has physical and mental impacts on cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and this can lead to a decline in their quality of life (QoL). Little is currently known about the factors that affect QoL among cancer patients in Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the factors influencing the QoL of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 102 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy recruited using a simple random sampling technique. Four instruments were used; 1) Demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaires; 2) the Thai Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (Thai HADS); 3) the Revised Thai version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (r-Thai MSPSS); and 4) the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTC QLQC-30, Thai version). Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used for data analysis.

Results:  According to the findings, the study demonstrated that depression had a statistically significant negative influence on QoL, physical functioning, and emotional functioning (B=-2.196, p=0.001; B=-2.630, p<0.001; B=-1.605, p=0.009, respectively). Similarly, anxiety exhibited a negative influence on emotional functioning, cognitive functioning, and social functioning (B= -2.593, p<0.001; B=-1.508, p=0.037). However, social support did not significantly influence QoL.

Conclusion: The study underscores the negative impact of depression and anxiety on QoL, emphasizing the importance of addressing psychological well-being. While social support’s influence on QoL was not significant in this context, the research highlights the factors affecting cancer patients’ well-being during challenging times. These insights could inform interventions to enhance QoL and patient care.

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Keywords: Anxiety and depression; cancer patients; COVID-19; quality of life; social support

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