title: Effect of the first chemotherapy course on the quality of life of cancer patients in Turkey.
abstract: Multiple studies have examined the quality of life of cancer patients before or after treatment, but few have evaluated the impact of a specific course of treatment on cancer patients' quality of life. Using a longitudinal design, we examined the quality of life of 24 women and 8 men before receiving their initial course of chemotherapy and again at 21 days after the first course of chemotherapy. The study was carried out at the outpatient chemotherapy unit of a university hospital located in the city of Izmir, West Turkey. Research data were collected using a patient demographic form and the Rolls Royce Model Quality of Life Scale. All of the postchemotherapy mean scores from the quality-of-life instrument were statistically significantly lower at day 21, except for the cognitive functioning subscale. Overall, initial chemotherapy was found to have a significantly negative effect on the quality of life of cancer patients. Nurses can help patients prepare for an initial decrease in their quality of life early in treatment.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Ege University School of Nursing, Izmir, Turkey. ayse.turgay@ege.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ayse San
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Turgay
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Khorshid
authors.forename: Ismet
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eser
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents