J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc.  2004 Mar;4(1):27-31.

Quality of Life in Patients with Stomach Cancer after Operation

• Jeon YW
• Han SI
• Jeon CE
• Kim JJ
• Park SM

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was designed to explore quality of life (QOL) in patients with stomach cancer by using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) Instrument-Korean version.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty-one (31) patients with stomach cancer after curative resection were recruited with informed consent. Age- and gender-matched hospital staff served as controls. The 100-item WHOQOL Instrument, including physical domain, psychological domain, social domain, independence domain, environment domain, and spiritual domain, was employed for the all subjects.
RESULTS
In patients with stomach cancer after operation, only two domains, physical and independence, were associated with worse quality of life. In those domains, patients with advanced stage, with total gastrectomy, with adjuvant chemotherapy, and early or late postoperative period (< or =2 years or >5 years after operation), could be perceived of having a worse quality of life.
CONCLUSION
Not only scientific objective success but also individual subjective perception of condition could be important for managing patients with stomach carcinomas after curative resection. In this context, the WHOQOL reflecting multi-dimensional state of well being could be a useful tool across a variety of cultural and value systems in the world.

Keyword

Stomach Cancer; WHOQOL; Operation; Chemotherapy; Advanced stage

MeSH Terms

Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
Drug Therapy
Gastrectomy
Humans
Informed Consent
Postoperative Period
Quality of Life*
Stomach Neoplasms*
Stomach*
World Health Organization