ABSTRACT
Objective:
to evaluate the quality of life of adult patients with hematologic cancers undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the first six months and comparing the transplant modalities.
Method:
an observational longitudinal study with 55 participants followed during pre-transplantation, after 100 days, and after 180 days in a reference teaching hospital for this treatment in Brazil. Two international instruments were used for the evaluation, both validated and translated into Portuguese (Brazil): The Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 and the Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation.
Results:
The results showed that the average age of the participants was 36 years old; 65% (n=36) had a diagnosis of leukemia, and 71% (n=39) underwent allogeneic transplantation. Regarding the Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 instrument, social function and fatigue were significant results, while the functional well-being and treatment outcome evaluation index for the Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation questionnaire had significant domains between the first and the second stage.
Conclusions:
despite transplantation being a complex and aggressive treatment, it can be noticed that patients generally perceive their quality of life as satisfactory throughout the therapeutic process. The findings of the study show that a significant portion (69% of patients) recover their quality of life after the first six months of treatment.
DESCRIPTORS:
Quality of life; Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Bone marrow transplant; Hematologic neoplasms; Oncological nursing