Disability, quality of life and emotional problems within a few days after surgery in patients operated due to colorectal cancer in Poland

Introduction: The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing, and the assessment of the disability quality of life (QoL), and emotional problems in patients with this diagnosis should require more and more attention from both the physician and the nursing team. The aim of the study was to assess the disabillty, QoL and emotional problems in patients operated due to CRC. Patients and methods: One hundred six patients (men and women) above 60-years-old in the first days after the abdominal surgery due to oncological or non-oncological reasons (control group) participated in the study. The disability was evaluated with WHO-DAS II questionnaire (World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II) and the QoL was measured with EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire and EORTC QLQ-CR29 (colorectal module). General Health Questionnaire — 28 (GHQ-28) was used for non-specific mental suffering assessment and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire EPQ-R(S) was used to study basic personality dimensions. The results obtained from the questionnaires were statistically analysed. Results: Patients operated due to CRC with stoma had higher degree of disability, poorer QoL and greater emotional problems compared to patients operated for non-oncological reasons. The type of surgery had a significant impact on the assessed QoL. The patients operated with minimally invasive methods had the lowest degree of disability, the highest QoL and the lowest emotional problems compared to patients operated using the classical methods. Conclusions: Physical and especially emotional disability of patients operated on due to CRC should be recognized in the hospital and appropriate psychological support should be initiated during hospitalization and continued at home to improve the QoL of this group of patients.