The effect of post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence on health-related quality of life in patients with prostate cancer

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the degree of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), and determine the effect of Urinary Incontinence (UI) on HRQoL in patients after prostatectomy. Methods: The participants were 110 adults who had undergone radical prostatectomies at Severance Hospital in Seoul, Korea. The data of this crosssectional study were collected between April 10, 2015, and June 12, 2015. The questionnaire included demographic and disease-related characteristics, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), and the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ). Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used. Results: The mean age was 66.27±7.24 years. The mean score of HRQoL was 47.37 (range 0~100). The lowest-ranked domains were "physical limitations" (M=51.21) and "role limitations" (M=49.85). The HRQoL was significantly different according to the number of post-operative day. HRQoL was significantly correlated with UI, and was affected by UI. The regression model of this study accounted for 70% of the HRQoL. Conclusion: UI might influence HRQoL in patients after prostatectomy. Nursing interventions with special consideration of UI are needed to improve their HRQoL.