title: Health-related quality of life in patients with lower rectal cancer after sphincter-saving surgery: a prospective 6-month follow-up study.
abstract: This longitudinal descriptive study examined whether rectal cancer patients report changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) over a 6-month period after different types of sphincter-saving surgery (SSS): intersphincteric resection (ISR), ultra-low anterior resection (ULAR) and low anterior resection (LAR). It also compares HRQOL among the three groups of patients. Seventy-three patients from two hospitals in Japan completed questionnaires on HRQOL and defecation symptoms immediately before surgery and 1 and 6 months afterwards. Results showed that ISR patients had significantly worse HRQOL scores than ULAR and LAR patients and more defecation symptoms that persisted during the 6 months post-SSS. Thus, patients undergoing ISR require psychological and social support, including skills in competent self-management, during the early post-operative period. Furthermore, defecation problems substantially influence HRQOL. The first month post-SSS is particularly challenging. The assumption that HRQOL is better after SSS compared to living with a permanent stoma might not be valid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.affiliation: Hunter College & Graduate Center, City University of New York, Stone Ridge, NY, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Nokes
authors.affiliation: Japanese Nursing Association, Tokyo.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanaoka
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Fukuoka Prefectural University, Fukuoka.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyazono
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chishaki
authors.affiliation: International University of Health and Welfare, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mibu
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012648:Self Care; D012944:Social Support
keywords: defecation symptoms; health-related quality of life; intersphincteric resection; prospective studies; rectal neoplasms; sphincter-saving surgery