Background:Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is one of the biggest health problems. Disabilities resulting from injuries such as spinal disability requires special attention because of their potential reduced to cause adverse effects in different systems of the body. Today, improving the Quality of Life (QOL) in patients with SCIs is an important goal of treatment.Objectives:The purpose of this study was to determine the QOL and related factors among people with SCIs.Patients and Methods:In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 106 patients with SCI were selected through sampling based on census. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and a Short-Form 36 (SF-36) health survey questionnaire for measuring the QOL among patients. Data were analyzed using SPSS 14 software and descriptive and inferential statistics. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:The mean QOL in these patients was 37.1 ± 1.7 years (21 - 65 years) and mean disease duration was 7.3±6 years. The most common injury was paraplegia. Most of the patients have moderate QOL (54.7 %). The results showed a significant relationship between QOL and marital status and employment status (P < 0.05). Also, results showed a significant relationship between QOL and education levels (P = 0.002), age (P = 0.001), and duration of illness (P = 0.001).The highest and lowest scores were 64 ± 7.1 and 36 ± 5.3 for understanding General Health (GH) and role physical, respectively.Conclusions:The results show that patients with SCI have a moderate health-related QOL Determining the QOL is needed to focus on the strengths and weaknesses of patients with spinal cord injuries. Planning principles is recommended in order to reform the disability.
Background
Today, cancer is one of the most important medical problems. Successful management of cancer patients requires an understanding regarding their experiences. The aim of the current study was to answer the question regarding experiences of cancer patients under outpatient oncology treatments.
Methods
Phenomenological method was used in order to access the depths of experiences felt by patients. The study was done in specialized cancer hospital and private hospital in 2018. Data gathering by in-depth and unstructured interviews were carried out with participants with previous arrangements. Data precision and robustness was determined based on Guba and Lincholn criteria. Data analysis was carried out based on Colaizzi seven-step method.
Results
A total of 9 people participated in this study. The experiences of cancer patients were categorized in five main concepts including 1) Individual problems, 2) Expectations from the physician and health care system, 3) the quality of health care system, 4) Coping with the cancer and 5) Support in the fight against cancer.
Conclusions
These patients have a wide range of medical, psychological, support and emotional needs which are only known to the patients themselves. Cancer itself is not the source of all these problems; instead they have various sources including family, society, policy making and treatment team, many of which can be solved with proper education. Therefore, it is necessary to offer comprehensive planning, starting with medical teams, and create the necessary infrastructures in the society.
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