THE GLOBAL WELL-BEING OF PATIENTS WITH NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMAS

Abstract

Introduction. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a lymphoid tumour with impact of physical health, psychological, spiritual well-being, social integration, the life-disease relationship being thus a multidimensional one. The objective of the study was to assess the global well-being in patients with NHL. Material and methods. A descriptive study of 116 adult patients (65 women, 51 men) with NHL was conducted. The individual interview was carried out following an epidemiological, clinical and psychological global well-beeing survey (GWB). Results. The average GWB score was lower in patients in the age category of 18-40 years (average score 43.75), was higher in men (62.2, moderate distress), which indicates a lower psycho-emotional stress compared to women (54.5, severe distress). Patients with an aggressive NHL reported a significantly lower GWB score (p=0.003). Extranodal disease (p=0.15) and stage of lymphoma (p=0.3) were not statistically significant correlated with the GWB scores. At the end of the first-line treatment of NHL, most patients presented with a positive well-being score (76, 65.6%). Conclusions. The most vulnerable for the development of severe distress are the younger patients, the female gender, and patients with aggressive NHL. The stage and location of disease onset do not have a direct impact on the well-being of patients with NHL. There is a tendency to improve the well-being after the first-line treatment.