Investigating the Quality of Life of Patients with Cervical Cancer in Iran

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. One of the most important indicators that deal with all aspects of the patients' health is the Health-related quality of life (QOL). In this study, the QOL of women with cervical cancer in Iran was investigated.

The present cross-sectional study examined the QOL of 139 patients with cervical cancer referred to Imam Khomeini hospital, affiliated with the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. For this study, a specific questionnaire of QOL in patients with cervical cancer was used. To determine the predictors of cervical cancer patients, the QOL linear regression model was used.

 Findings of this study showed that the total score of QOL of patients was 20.97±1.29. Moreover, in the regression model, a significant relationship was observed between the type of treatment and patients' QOL scores and those patients who had neoadjuvant therapy plus surgery (β=-17.45, P=0.02) and those who received brachytherapy (β=- 14.86 and P=0.09) had a significantly lower QOL score.

Overall, the QOL of people with cervical cancer was moderate. Implementing educational programs for service providers and choosing the appropriate type of treatment according to the stage of the disease and the patient's age can help control this type of disease and its complications and improve the QOL of patients.