THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG HOPE, SOCIAL SUPPORT, SYMPTOM DISTRESS, AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF COLORECTAL CANCER PATIENTS RECEIVING CHEMOTHERAPY

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between hope and quality of life, social support and quality of life, and symptom distress and quality of life among colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Data were collected at the Police General Hospital, the Thammasat University Hospital, and the Lopburi Cancer Hospital during March-May, 2015. Ninety-three participants participated in this study and were asked to completed these questionnaires in a private area: 1) the health status questionnaire; 2) the Herth Hope Index; 3) the social support questionnaires; 4) the symptom distress scale; and 5) FACT-C questionnaires. The content validity index and reliability coefficients of these questionnaires were acceptable.  Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient, and Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficient.

The result indicated that hope was strongly, positively correlated with quality of life (r=.60, p<.001), social support was moderately, positively correlated with quality of life (r_s=.37, p<.001), and symptom distress was strongly, negatively correlated with quality of life (r_s=-.77, p<.001)