J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  2024 Nov;31(4):494-505. 10.7739/jkafn.2024.31.4.494.

Disease Perception, Stigma, Distress, Physical Symptom Experience and Quality of Life in Colorectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Lee EH
• Choi D

• KMID: 2561815
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7739/jkafn.2024.31.4.494

Abstract

Purpose
This study investigated the impacts of disease perception, stigma, distress, and physical symptom experience on the quality of life of colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
Methods
A descriptive study was conducted on 127 colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy from June 2023 to November 2023. The collected data were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis in SPSS 26.
Results
The participants' occupation (β=.14, p=.002), religion (β=.11, p=.018), disease perception (β=-.24, p<.001), stigma (β=-.12, p=.028), distress (β=-.44, p<.001), and physical symptom experience (β=-.16, p=.004) were significant factors influencing the quality of life of colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, and the explanatory power of the model was found to be 78%.
Conclusion
The results of this study suggest the need to prepare various intervention strategies to comprehensively manage disease perception, stigma, distress, and physical symptom experiences in colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, thereby improving their quality of life.

Keyword

Awareness; Colorectal neoplasm; Psychological distress; Quality of life; Social stigma