Assessment of health-related quality of life of prostate cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State

Abstract

Introduction: Ensuring assessment of Health Status in research and clinical care enables improvement in treatment outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the health status of prostate cancer patients at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional, descriptive survey involving 181 prostate cancer patients. The study was conducted in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, over a period of five months (May to October 2023). Descriptive and inferential analyses were done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, SPSS version 27. Correlation and post hoc tests were employed to examine the relationships between socio-demographic variables and Health status Data was collected using a 15D Health status instrument. P ≤ 0.05. Results: Out of the 181 prostate cancer patients interviewed, 45.3% were 60 years and above. More than half were married. Most were employed with university education as their highest level of education. The 15D instrument showed that above half of prostate cancer patients had problem staying asleep (50.8%) and also had marked problems with their bladder (32%). About 34.3% of patients with prostate cancer had severe physical discomfort from pain and ache etc. There general state of health has a considerable effect on sexual activity. The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of prostate cancer patients also increases as the level of education increases. (Graduate; 0.6840 ± 0.16934). Age and level of education are important determinant of quality of life in prostate cancer besides other socio-demographic variables. Conclusion: Vitality and functional activities were the domains most affected by prostate cancer.