Quality of life among cancer patients in Baghdad - Iraq 2023

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. It can cause various adverse symptoms, including fatigue, anxiety, depression, and pain. These symptoms can reduce cancer patients’ quality of life. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the quality of life of Iraqi patients with different types of cancers. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Amal Hospital. A convenient sampling technique was used .321 cancer patients. Data was collected through direct interviews with the patients using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on the quality-of-Life Cancer Survivors Instrument and quality-of-Life Scale. The scores were graded from 1 to 7, and a few items needed to be reversed since they had reverse anchors. Results: The mean symptom score was 4.1179, psychological 3.2809, and social 3.7181. This suggests individuals were mainly satisfied with their symptoms but unhappy with their mental and social health. The study indicated that symptoms score was strongly linked with age, gender, marital status, residence, family history, therapy, and cancer type. The psychological score substantially correlated with all demographics. The social score was substantially related with all demographics except gender and disease type. Conclusion: This study indicated that Iraqi cancer patients had the lowest psychological and social quality of life. Several demographic factors substantially correlated with scores. These findings imply that cancer patients' quality of life is impacted by several factors and that measures to improve it should be personalized to each patient.