5058 - EONS Poster - Are there differences between nurses’ and patients’ perceptions of cancer patients’ quality of life in Greece?

Background

Cancer and its treatment affect negatively patients’ quality of life. Nurses and their perceptions about patient quality of life should be vital in order to provide high-quality care and increase patients’ QoL. The aim of this study is investigate nurses’ and patients’ perceptions about cancer patients’ quality of life.

Methods

This was a non-experimental and descriptive study. It was conducted in two large hospitals in a major Northern Greek city. The subjects were 50 pairs of cancer patients and their nurses. Patients and nurses had completed the Greek Version of the World Health Organization quality of life (WHOQoLBREF) questionnaire, separately

Results

The majority of patients was female (50%) with mean age 59.8 years (S.D. 15.1). Regarding nurses’ demographic characteristics 88% was female with mean age 45.8 years (S.D. 8.8). According to the patients’ perceptions the mean of physical health domain was 14.8 (S.D. 3.2), psychological domain was 15.1 (S.D. 2.6), social relationships domain was 14.2 (S.D. 3.7) and environment domain was 15.7 (S.D. 2.3). The corresponding scores of nurses were 12.6 (S.D. 1.9), 12.9 (S.D. 2.6), 13.1 (S.D. 3.4), 14.1 (S.D. 2.9) respectively. Wilcoxon test was shown statistically significant differences between patients’ perceptions and nurses’ perceptions in 3 domains (physical health (p = 0.001), psychological domain (p = 0.001), environment domain (p = 0,003) except from social relationships. Specifically, the quality of life was scored lower by nurses than the corresponding drawings of patients. Additionally, correlation was found between the time which nurse spends with patients and psychological domain (r = 0.313) and environment domain (r = 0.372) respectively.

Conclusions

There were differences between Greek cancer patients and their nurses about cancer patients QoL. The results of the present study stress the need for further research in order to increase nursing understanding about patients’ life and enhance holistic nursing approach.

Clinical trial identification

Legal entity responsible for the study

Alexander Technological Educational Institute-1, Research Laboratory “Care in Adult Cancer Patients”.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Editorial Acknowledgement

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.