Assessment of Quality of Life in Cervical Cancer Patients at a Tertiary Care Centre

A BSTRACT Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common neoplasm among women. Cancer and treatment side effects have adverse effects and this affects patient’s well-being during and after treatment, resulting in lower quality of life (QoL). The paucity of data about QoL of Indian cervical cancer survivors led to the present study with the objective of assessing quality of life among cervical cancer patients. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 136 cervical cancer patients attending Gynecology Out Patient Department (OPD) and Radiotherapy OPD, in Government General Hospital, Kurnool, during April–May 2023. Sample size was calculated using Cochran’s formula, taking prevalence of cervical cancer as 9.4% and absolute error of precision as 5%. Institutional ethical committee clearance and informed consent of study participants were obtained. For evaluation of QoL, a validated questionnaire for women with cervical cancer (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Cervix Cancer [FACT-Cx]) was used. The total score of FACT-Cx questionnaire ranges from 0 to 168, with higher score indicating better QoL. Data on socio-demographic profile, stage and grade of cancer and treatment modalities were collected and subjected to quantitative analysis using SPSS Version 21. Results: The mean age of the patients was 50.28 years, and 69.9% of them were illiterate. 45.6% belonged to middle-class socio-economic status according to BG Prasad’s classification. The overall mean score was 83.42 ± 14.4 standard deviation. Physical well-being was 14.59 ± 4.3, social/family well-being was 14.70 ± 3.68, emotional well-being was 11.79 ± 2.9, functional well-being was 12.20 ± 3.29, and mean score for additional concerns was 30.14 ± 5.37. PWB was affected by educational status (β = 0.212, P = 0.016) and staging of tumour (β = -0.326, P = 0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that majority of cervical cancer patients receiving treatment had stable QoL as depicted by social, family and functional well-being. Women with cervical cancer may require counselling, and reasonable efforts should be taken to alleviate their suffering.