Effect of family support on quality of postoperative life in patients with digestive cancer

Abstract

Background: Digestive tumors are malignant tumors of epithelial origin with high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. At present, surgery is the main treatment for patients with digestive tumors. In this study, we conducted a survey of patients with digestive cancers to explore the influence of family support on postoperative quality of life, with the aim of providing a basis of reference for further improvement of the quality of life of such patients. Methods: A total of 82 patients with digestive cancer who underwent surgery in Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between October, 2018 and April, 2019 were selected to take part. The self-made questionnaire, the European Cancer Research and Treatment Organization’s Core Quality of Life Questionnaire for Cancer Patients, and the Family Support Scale were used to investigate the patients, and the collected data were statistically analyzed. Results: The family support scores of the 82 enrolled patients ranged from 5 to 15 points, with an average score of (8.86±2.47) points; 60 cases (73.17%) scored ≥10 points and 12 cases (26.83%) scored <10 points. Patients who were married, aged under 30 years old, or employed as civil servants had higher family support scores than other patients (P<0.05). The scores for physical function, emotional function, and overall health status/quality of life in patients who had a high family support score were higher than those in patients who had a low family support score (P<0.05). According to the logistic regression model, Patients with higher age, getting married, with education level of bachelor degree or above, occupation as farmer and with other digestive tract tumor got higher family support score. (P<0.05). Conclusions: Good family support can effectively improve quality of postoperative life for patients with digestive cancer. Education, age, occupation and marriage are all independent factors that affect family support.