Relationship between illness perception and quality of life in prostate cancer survivors

Tajik, Mohammad; Salehi, Shiva; Nasrollah, Sepideh

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Research code: 163252647

Ethics code: IR.IAU.TMU.REC.1404.128

Relationship between illness perception and quality of life in prostate cancer survivors

Mohammad Tajik¹, Shiva Salehi ^*², Sepideh Nasrollah³

1- MSc Student in medical-surgical nursing, Department of Nursing, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2- Assistant professor, Department of Nursing, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran , shsalehi@iautmu.ac.ir
3- Assistant professor, Department of Nursing, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: (27 Views)

Background and Aims: In the survival stage of Prostate cancer, quality of life is one of the key indicators of health outcomes. On the other hand, how patients perceive their illness can influence their adaptation, health-related behaviors, and ultimately their quality of life. The present aimed to determine the relationship between disease perception and quality of life among prostate cancer survivors.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study included 230 prostate cancer survivors referred to Labafinejad Hospital through convenience sampling during 3 months. The required data were collected using the demographic characteristics form, the Broadbent et al. (2006) illness perception questionnaire, and the EORTC QLQ-C30 quality of life questionnaire. The data were then analyzed using SPSS software (version 22).
Results: Analyses showed a positive and significant correlation (r=0.544) between illness perception and overall quality of life, such that a more realistic perception of illness was associated with a higher quality of life score. Moreover, adjusted regression analysis showed that the variables "ability to understand illness" (r=0.449, P<0.001) and "cognitive illness representation" (r=0.324, P<0.001) explained 29.9% of the quality of life in survivors.
Conclusion: A positive and significant relationship was noted between the quality of life and the perception of disease, suggesting that a realistic cognitive representation of illness may contribute to better adaptation. Therefore, future interventions should be taken into consideration to improve patients' accurate perception of their disease in order to enhance their quality of life.

Keywords: Illness perception, Prostate cancer, Quality of life, Survivors