Quality of life in patients with advanced-stage cancer in relation to their social profile characteristics

Objective: to analysis of the quality of life associated with the characteristics of the medical and social portrait of patients with cancer in the later stages of the disease. Material and methods. According to the method developed by Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences A.V. Reshetnikov, the socio-demographic characteristics of 417 patients 61±1 years old suffering from cancer of stages III and IV were assessed; 57.4% are women. Quality of life was assessed according to the World Health Organization (WHO QoL 100) international questionnaire, the value of religious beliefs was assessed according to the Yu.Yu. Sinelina scale. Results. The total quality of life score of the respondents was reduced to 74.73 points. To a greater extent, the indicators are reduced in the subspheres “Physical”, “Psychological”, “Level of independence”, “Social relations”, “Environment”. The decline in quality of life is associated with gender, age, level of education, territory of residence, marital status, level of financial restrictions, duration of illness, value of religious beliefs for the respondent. For 87.8% of respondents, religious beliefs are important. For respondents who regularly pray, the average values of quality of life indicators in the sub-sphere “Physical safety and security” and in the sphere “Environment” were higher. Conclusion. There was a decrease in the average values of quality of life indicators in all areas and subspheres of the WHO QoL 100 questionnaire. Somatically and socially determined differences in quality of life associated with the characteristics of the medical and social portrait of cancer patients in the later stages of the disease were established. Religious beliefs will contribute to improving the quality of life of patients, provided that spiritual needs are taken into account when organizing palliative care.