Determinants of Quality of Life in Patients After Thyroidectomy: Electrolyte Imbalance, Sleep Problems, and Fatigue

Aim: The study was conducted to determine the effects of electrolyte levels, sleep problems, and fatigue on quality of life in patients undergoing thyroidectomy. Method: The study involved 93 participants who underwent thyroidectomy from April 2023 to August 2024. The study was conducted in a descriptive design. The data of the study were collected with the Descriptive Characteristics Questionnaire Form, Fatigue Severity Scale, Richard Campbell Sleep Scale, and SF-12 Quality of Life Scale. Independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance, dependent sample t-test, Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis were used to evaluate the data. Ethical approval, institutional permission, academic board permission, and informed consent were obtained. Electrolyte levels, quality of life, fatigue severity and sleep scale total scores of thyroidectomy patients were evaluated face to face before discharge and by phone first month post-discharge. Results: Quality of life, fatigue and sleep quality scale scores were determined as 29.83±3.99, 38.41±20.61, and 35.77±14.17 respectively in the first month post-discharge. A significant, negative correlation was found between the quality of life and fatigue scale and the total score of the fatigue and sleep scale during the initial month following post-discharge. In the study, fatigue, sleep quality, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium levels explained 55% of the increase in quality of life after thyroidectomy. Conclusion: At the conclusion of the study, it was ascertained that there was a decrease in sleep quality and quality of life, alongside an increase in fatigue levels in patients after thyroidectomy. The study helps healthcare professionals to provide better counseling to their patients and provides an up-to-date synthesis of quality of life, fatigue and sleep quality that may allow a more personalized approach.