Quality of life in colorectal cancer outpatients

Aim: This study aimed to longitudinally analyze Quality of Life and its association with physical and psychosocial factors of patients with colorectal cancer. Method: Fifty-one outpatients undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer were elected for convenience and were evaluated twice during their treatment. Evaluations were performed for Quality of Life, as well as socio-demographic, diagnostic and therapeutic variables. Afterwards, descriptive and inferential statistical analysis were performed, establishing the appropriate comparisons. Results: The results identified a characteristic profile with a relatively homogeneous distribution: 51% were men with an average age of 60.1 years old (SD = 9.3 years) at the baseline. In general, concerning psychosocial aspects, there was a higher Quality of Life than other studies with the same population, in addition to a significant improvement over time in all subscales of performance and symptoms. Furthermore, it was evidenced that the physical aspects considerably influenced the self-report of the Quality of Life. Conclusion: The recognition of the interferences that physical aspects pose to Quality of Life, should permeate the practices of teams involved in the care of these patients.