DIAGNOSIS OF GASTRIC CANCER AND ITS IMPACT ON PATIENT'S SOCIAL LIFE AND RELATIONSHIP

DIAGNOSIS OF GASTRIC CANCER AND ITS IMPACT ON PATIENT’S SOCIAL LIFE AND RELATIONSHIP Rakesh Ranjan, Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Manisha Kumari & Sujoy Roy Research Scholar, University Department of Home Science, Patliputra University, Patna, Bihar, India. Research Scholar, Post Graduate Department of Home Science- Food & Nutrition, Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India. Dietician, Department of Dietetics, Indra Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India. Dietician, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Deoghar, Jharkhand, India. E.Mail : [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] & [email protected]. ABSTRACT Introduction: A gastric cancer diagnosis significantly impacts a patient's personal life, social life and relationships, leading to reduced social interactions, potential tensions within the family, and disruptions in marital and parental relationships. Patients may experience isolation and difficulties managing emotions, while family members may struggle with care giving burden and emotional stress. Gastric cancer (GC) families as a whole face the stressful time of cancer together and the quality of life of both the patient and the family can be affected. Most past researchers have focused on the quality of life of gastric cancer patients but have neglected the role that caregivers or family members play in the treatment process. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors influencing quality of life of gastric cancer patients and their social life and relationship. Materials and methods: This study was conducted in between October 2023 to September 2024 in different hospitals in Bihar & Jharkhand and fully based on questionnaire with patients and their family members. The sample was collected considering age, gender, socioeconomic conditions, cancer stage, and disease duration of the respondents. Based on the results of the pre-interviews, we made some adjustments to the interview format, i.e., interviewing some informants individually with patient & family members and others jointly. Results: A total of 92 patients and 92 relatives were interviewed. Four themes emerged from the study, which were contextual factors (disease-specific factors, physical and social environments and individual & family characteristics), knowledge and belief factors, self-regulation factors and social facilitators (positive motivation and emotional support from family, friends, and society). In addition, the study confirmed a high correlation between the quality of life of patients and their families. Conclusion: A diagnosis of gastric cancer can have a profound impact on a patient's social life and relationships that affecting social interactions, family dynamics, and overall well-being. The study confirmed the high association between quality of life of gastric cancer patients and their family members with anxiety, depression especially with low socioeconomic conditions patients. The study also findings that addressing these challenges is crucial for supporting patients and their families during this difficult time.