Quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer in the Slovak Republic: A pilot study

The aim of the study was to determine the level of QoL (quality of life) satisfaction/dissatisfaction in patients with colorectal cancer in eight health concepts in the study and control group. In this cross-sectional study, the standardized questionnaire MOS of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used. The study group consisted of patients who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer (n = 18, 83.3% males; mean age 62.3 ± 15.9 years). The control group consisted of patients who were diagnosed with other diseases but not cancerous ones (n = 34, 58.8% males; mean age 50.6 ± 8.2 years). In the study group the highest rate of patient QoL dissatisfaction (expressed as a mean score) was observed in the subcategory of role limitations due to physical health (6.9 ± 11.5), whereas in the control group one of the highest rate of patients QoL satisfaction was achieved in this category (69.1 ± 39.9; P = 0.000). A similar high significant result was observed in the subcategory of role limitations due to emotional problems: there was a very low score in the study group and a high score in the control group (7.4 ± 18.3 and 71.6 ± 37.7, respectively; P = 0.000). The highest rate of patients QoL satisfaction in the study group and the control group was observed in the subcategory of pain (31.7 ± 15.6 and 77.6 ± 13.9, respectively; P = 0.000). Our results are the argument for intervention aimed at understanding the QoL experienced by colorectal cancer patients. This is essential for evaluating the full impact of the illness on individuals, their families and their communities.