Analysis of stress, sense of coherence and quality of life in patients with cancer of the colon undergoing chemotherapy

• Grant number: 11/02911-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing - Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Ana Lucia Siqueira Costa Calache
• Grantee: Ana Lucia Siqueira Costa Calache
• Host Institution: Escola de Enfermagem (EE). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Various studies have shown the impact cancer diagnosis and treatment have on individual lifestyles. Chemotherapy, whether adjuvant or neoadjuvant, is identified as a major cause of stress among patients and wields significant influence over quality of life. Despite the evidence indicating a strong association between emotional manifestations of stress and therapeutic actions against cancer, this association has not yet been totally clarified, as a certain variability can be discerned in the deployment of resistance resources to meet the demands imposed by the threatening stimuli that accompany this course of treatment. As such, the aim of this study is to analyze Sense of Coherency (SOC) and verify its correlation with the perception of stress and quality of life of patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer of the colon. The study group consists of 194 individuals receiving since third week and the first pause of treatment respective, for chemotherapy for cancer of the colon using 5FU+leucovorin or Folflox (Oxaliplatina+Leucovorin+5FU). All of these patients are attended at the Cancer Clinic of the São Paulo State Cancer Institute. To conduct this analysis we shall use instruments to gauge perceptions of stress, sense of coherency, and general and colon-specific quality of life, as well as the patients' sociodemographic and clinical data. The statistical analysis will test for questionnaire reliability using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and for inter-instrument agreement using Pearson's correlation. Variance analysis will be conducted to measure qualitative variables in the sociodemographic/clinical questionnaires. For significant ANOVA, Tukey's post-hoc test will be applied to ascertain which groups present different averages. In this study, our postulation is that perceptions of stress and quality of life will be found to be dependent upon the presented sense of coherency. Furthermore, the association between SOC and quality of life can be mediated by such specific factors as sociodemographic data and the clinical characteristics of the disease. This study will contribute to our understanding of why certain patients cope well during chemotherapy and of what can be done to help those who suffer significant emotional alterations. The analysis of sociodemographic and clinical data in conjunction with stress, sense of coherency and life-quality questionnaire responses could provide future bases for the examination of groups with greater exposure to emotional manifestations. (AU)