Abstract

PAREDES, Tiago et al. Impact of chronic illness on quality of life: a comparison between individuals from the general population and bone and soft tissue cancer patiente. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2008, vol.9, n.1, pp.73-87. ISSN 1645-0086.

Cancer diagnosis and its treatments are associated with physical, psychological and social implications that cause a significant reduction in the patient’s quality of life. The aim of this exploratory study was to assess the impact of a specific chronic illness – the bone and soft tissue cancer – on the quality of life. In this sense, a sample of 30 bone and soft tissue cancer patients and a control group of 30 healthy individuals responded to the WHOQOL-100. The results obtained evidence the statistical significant differences between the clinical and the control group, suggesting the negative impact of bone and soft tissue cancer on the global quality of life (t=2.38; p< .05) and on the physical (t=2.06; p>< .05) and level of independence (t=6.51; p>< .001) quality of life domains. This study evidence the need for multidisciplinary interventions that help the patient to cope better with this disease and its treatments, improving their wellbeing.

Keywords : Cancer; Bone and soft tissue cancer; Quality of life; WHOQOL-100; Psychological assessment.

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