Dyspnea and Quality of Life in Patients with Lung Cancer

Objective This study was planned to evaluate dyspnea symptoms and quality of life of patients with lung cancer and to determine the affecting factors. Methods The study sample consisted of 146 patients with primary diagnosis of lung cancer who were treated in the medical oncology clinic between January and April 2018. Data were collected using the patient personal, disease and treatment characteristics information form, cancer dyspnea scale and the European Cancer Quality of Life Research and Treatment Self-Assessment Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). Results A statistically significant difference was found in the role functioning sub-dimension of males, insomnia symptom sub-dimension of females; global health status and physical functioning sub-dimensions of the employees; fatigue and appetite loss symptom sub-dimensions of unemployed patients; diarrhea symptom sub-dimension of those with high income and economic difficulties sub-dimension of low-income patients (p<0.05). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the dyspnea scores and quality of life scores of lung cancer patients (p<0.05). Conclusion As a result, as the perception of dyspnea worsened, so did the quality of life. Healthcare professionals should evaluate dyspnea in patients with lung cancer and implement treatment care by considering the quality of life and the factors that affect it.