Gastrointestinal side effects and quality of life in patients receiving radiation therapy
Padilla, G.V.
Nutrition 6(5): 367-370
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0899-9007 PMID: 2134559 Document Number: 352714
A sample of 101 patients from 4 radiation oncology clinics participated in a study to describe the relative impact of gastrointestinal side-effects of radiation therapy on the psychological and physical well-being dimensions of the quality of life. Stepwise regression analysis showed that 44.2% of the variance in psychological well-being was accounted for by patient-reported gastrointestinal problems (21.5%), tension anxiety (11.8%), other side-effects of radiation (5.4%) and satisfaction with care (5.5%). A similar analysis revealed that 50.7% of the variance in physical well-being was accounted for by patient-reported fatigue (35.5%), gastrointestinal problems (8.8%), other side-effects (4%) and willingness to comply (2.4%). Although treatment dose and field size directly impact on the severity of side-effects, the results suggest that it is the perception of side-effects as problems that impacts on psychological and physical well-being.