Assessment of Performance Status on Physical and Psychological Problems Related to Chemotherapy among Patients with Cancer

Abstract

Objectives: The main aim of the study was to assess the performance statue on physical and psychological problems related to chemotherapy among patients with cancer and find out the relationship between study findings and selected variables

Methodology: A study conducted descriptive on one hundred of cancer patients under chemotherapy collected in Outpatient Clinic of the Oncology Imamen Al-Kazemin Hospital during period of June to September 2016. The study utilized the questionnaire about performance, physical and psychological problems related to chemotherapy among patients with cancer:

Results: Fatigue, hair loss, metallic taste in mouth, Sore mouth, appetite loss, nausea, and vomiting were the most commonly experienced and most debilitating and severity physical symptoms. Approximately less than half of participants had borderline or clinical levels of anxiety and depression. Although relatively performance grade range (0-1) levels were91% of patient s activity ranged between full active and some restricted. finally, there is significant differences between performance status to their physical &psychological problems at P value 0.001. The data were analyzed by using the SPSS, version 22.

Conclusions: The study showed the presence of physical and psychological problems for patients with cancer and its relationship with the state of performance of activities and adherence to that sample.

Recommendation: The study recommended to promoting public health educational programs to elevate the level of awareness regarding the necessity to support patients complaining of cancer in Iraq.