Comparison of Specific Quality of Life Between Urban and Rural Colorectal Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common invasive cancers responsible for physical and psychosocial morbidity. Therefore, quality of life (QoL) is an important outcome for these patients. Despite advances in understanding QoL, the majority of available research is from urban areas. The present study aims to compare QoL between urban and rural CRC patients.

 Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we assessed 110 patients with CRC (79 urban, 31 rural) who referred to Razi Hospital. Demographic and clinical factors were collected by data collection forms, and through patient interviews and review of medical records. Specific QoL was evaluated by FACT-C. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 16, t- and chi-square tests.

Results: Mean scores for specific QoL were higher in urban patients than those who resided in rural areas(p‹0.05); this difference was statistically significant in the domains of physical wellbeing (p‹0.02) and functional wellbeing (p‹0.01). Only in the mean scores of social and family wellbeing were rural patients partially higher than urban patients; but this difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Specific QoL of patients with CRC differs according to residence location. QoL is higher for those who reside in urban areas in comparison with rural areas. This highlights the need for interventions in the performance of health and QoL promotion amongst rural patients.