Correlation of quality of life with self-care efficacy and social support in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy

Abstract

To explore the correlation of quality of life with self-care efficacy and social support in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy. Methods: A total of 179 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma at 3 months after radiotherapy were surveyed using self-designed general information questionnaire, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (EORTC QLQ-C30 V3.0), Chinese-version of Strategies Used by People to Promote Health (C-SUPPH), and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS). Results: The score of cognitive function was the highest, while the score of social function was the lowest. The score of related symptoms was 22.21±10.24, the overall score for quality of life was 52.46±17.96, the score of self-care efficacy was 62.14±14.50, and the score of social support was 56.03±7.63. Self-care efficacy of patients with nasopharyngeal cancer after radiotherapy was positively correlated with 5 functional areas of quality of life and overall quality of life, and negatively correlated with relevant symptoms (P<0.01). Social support was positively correlated with physical function, social function and overall quality of life (P<0.01), and negatively correlated with relevant symptoms (P<0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that self-care efficacy could predict 5 functional areas of life quality, relevant symptoms, overall quality of life and social support predicted social function in quality of life. Conclusion: Self-care efficacy and social support for patients with nasopharyngeal cancer after radiotherapy can affect their quality of life. Nursing staff should pay attention to improving the self-care efficacy of patients, guide them to actively seek or obtain social support, and in turn to improve their quality of life.