Asian Oncol Nurs.  2022 Mar;22(1):21-28. 10.5388/aon.2022.22.1.21.

Changes in Psychological Distress and Quality of Life After Esophageal Cancer Surgery: A Prospective Study

• Jung JR
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2528113
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5388/aon.2022.22.1.21

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to identify the changes in psychological distress and the quality of life in patients with esophageal cancer from pre-surgery to 3 months after surgery.
Methods
We enrolled 49 patients scheduled to undergo esophageal surgery at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Patients’ psychological distress and quality of life were assessed using the Korean scales, such as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), and an esophageal cancer-specific questionnaire (QLQ-OES18) at pre-surgery, 1 month, and 3 months post-surgery.
Results
Moderate-to-severe anxiety was reported in 12.2% of patients at the pre-surgery evaluation, 57.1% of patients at 1 month post-surgery, and 8.2% at 3 months post-surgery. Moderate-to-severe depression was reported in 12.2% of patients at the pre-surgery evaluation, 63.3% at 1 month post-surgery, and 16.3% of patients at 3 months post-surgery. Clinically significant, moderate changes (10~20 points) in physical functioning, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, and dyspnea (per EORTC QLQ-C30) and dysphagia and taste problems (per QLQ-OES18) were reported from pre-surgery to 1 month post-surgery.
Conclusion
One month after esophageal cancer surgery, patients demonstrated severe psychological distress and worsening quality of life. Nursing intervention is needed to relieve psychological distress and improve the quality of life in patients with esophageal cancer in the 1-month early recovery period.

Keyword

Esophageal neoplasms; Psychological distress; Anxiety; Depression; Quality of life