Pretreatment quality of life in patients with rectal cancer is associated with intrusive thoughts and sense of coherence

• Purpose Quality of life may predict survival. In addition to clinical variables, it may be influenced by psychological factors, some of which may be accessible for intervention. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the association of intrusive thoughts and the patients' sense of coherence with pretreatment quality of life in patients with newly diagnosed rectal cancer. Methods Patients were prospectively included in 16 hospitals in Sweden and Denmark. They answered an extensive questionnaire after receiving their treatment plan. Clinical data were retrieved from national quality registries for rectal cancer. Results Of 1248 included patients, a total of 1085 were evaluable. Pretreatment global health-related and overall quality of life was lower in patients planned for palliative compared with curative treatment (median 53 vs. 80 on the EuroQoL visual analogue scale, p < 0.001 and odds ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.36-0.88, respectively). Quality of life was associated with intrusive thoughts (odds ratio 0.33, 95% confidence interval 0.24-0.45) and sense of coherence (odds ratio 0.44, 95% confidence interval 0.370.52) irrespective of the treatment plan. Conclusions Pretreatment quality of life was influenced by the intent of treatment as well as by intrusive thoughts and the patients' sense of coherence. Interventions could modify these psychological factors, and future studies should focus on initiatives to improve quality of life for this group of patients.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Veterinärmedicin -- Klinisk vetenskap (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Veterinary Science -- Clinical Science (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Cancer

Oncology

Rectal cancer

Quality of life

Intrusive thoughts

Sense of coherence

Clinical trial

colorectal-cancer

abdominoperineal excision

antonovskys sense

survival

scale

surgery

interventions

management

variables

disease

Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Surgery

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)