Relationships among Symptom Cluster, Method of Coping and Health Related Quality of Life In Brain Tumor Patients Receiving Brain Surgery

Abstract

The purpose of descriptive research was to investigate the relationships among symptom cluster, coping and health related quality of life in patients with brain tumor after surgery. The samples were 110 brain tumor patients, who were followed up at the Outpatient Department of Prasat Neurological Institute, Rajavithi Hospital and Police Hospital after surgery not more than 6 months. Research instruments included symptom cluster questionnaire, method of coping questionnaire and Thai version of EORCT C-30. Content validity was examined by five experts. The Instruments were tested by using reliability Conbach’s alpha coefficient obtained at .64, 0.91 and .90, respectively. Data were analyzed using frequency, mean, standard deviation and Pearson’s product moment coefficient. The major finding showed that mean of health related quality of life in brain tumor patients after brain surgery (x- = 77.08) was higher than the reference mean (x- = 68.88). Symptom cluster were negative significant correlated with health related quality of life in brain tumor patients after brain surgery (r = -.520). Method of coping were not correlated to health related quality of life in brain tumor patients after brain surgery.