Title : Patients Quality of Life in Relation to Quality Nursing Care: What Nurses Need to Know
Abstract:
Statement of the problem: The concept of quality of life (QOL) refers to the ability to enjoy normal life activities; it is a complex combination of satisfactory functioning in essential four core domains — physical, psychological/emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing which are overlapping and interdependent.
Quality of life is an important aspect of care in the clinical setting; nurses can improve patients' quality of life by ensuring they are competent in daily practice, and by giving patients a high quality holistic care based on safe, effective and evidence based intervention.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality of life of cancer patients and the impact of nursing care.
Methodology: A convenient sample of adult patients recruited from a university hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaire or patient structured interview.
Tools used: EORTC QLQ-C30 (Version 3).
Data analysis includes descriptive statistics and exploration of relationships between key variables; physical, emotional, social wellbeing.
Findings: Results revealed significant correlation between fatigue, emotional disturbance and quality of life.
Conclusion: Quality of life should be assessed by nurses frequently throughout treatment phases to identify patients at risk. Nurses also should emphasize on proper patients teaching and counseling to promote physical psychosocial balance and improve quality of life.
