Psychosocial Predictors of Quality of Life among Jordanian Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Mixed-Method Study

Abstract

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is one of the most common forms of cancer worldwide (National Cancer Institute [NCI], 2007); its prevalence is also reflected in the Jordanian population (Jordanian Ministry of Health & Jordan Cancer Registry [MOH & JCR], 2008). It appears that CRC diagnosis and treatment modalities have a negative impact on patients’ physical, social, and emotional well-being and their quality of life (QOL). Alarmingly, up to 35% of CRC patients have clinically significant levels of psychological distress. Accordingly, better understanding of QOL and its psychosocial predictors will assist health professionals, especially oncology nurses, to recognize the effects of CRC and its treatment modalities on patients and to plan appropriate interventions to ameliorate these effects. This study was conducted in two phases using mixed methods in a sequentional-explanatory design to: (1) explore the relationships between hope, coping, psychological distress (depression and anxiety), age, gender, marital status, income, time since diagnosis and QOL among Jordanian CRC patients; (2) identify to what extent hope, coping, psychological distress (depression and anxiety), age, gender, marital status, income and time since diagnosis predicts QOL among Jordanian CRC patients; and (3) describe Jordanian CRC patients’ experiences and perceptions about QOL during their treatment period.