The Role of Health Behaviors in Quality of Life: A Longitudinal Study of Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Jaroslaw Ocalewski, Michał Jankowski, Wojciech Zegarski, Arkadiusz Migdalski and Krzysztof Buczkowski ()
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Jaroslaw Ocalewski: Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, 85-064 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Michał Jankowski: Department of Surgical Oncology, L. Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-094 Toruń, Poland
Wojciech Zegarski: Department of Surgical Oncology, L. Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-094 Toruń, Poland
Arkadiusz Migdalski: Department of Vascular Surgery and Angiology, L. Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-094 Torun, Poland
Krzysztof Buczkowski: Department of Family Medicine, L. Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-094 Torun, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the second most common cancer-related cause of death worldwide. CRC incidence depends, in part, on the health behaviors that make up an individual’s lifestyle. We aimed to assess the influence of health behaviors and quality of life (QoL) among patients with CRC receiving surgical treatment. In this single-center questionnaire study, 151 patients were surveyed 1 week before and 6 months after colorectal procedures (laparoscopic hemicolectomy, low rectal anterior resection, abdominoperineal resection, and others). This study demonstrated a significant decrease in alcohol consumption and physical activity following the execution of colorectal procedures. No statistically significant changes were observed in smoking or the consumption of healthy food. Global QoL did not change significantly; however, a decrease in physical and role-related functioning was observed. Significant improvements in emotional functioning were also observed. A detailed analysis showed that physical and social functioning were related to smoking, the consumption of healthy food, physical activity, and additional therapies. Emotional functioning was related to smoking, the consumption of healthy food, and complementary treatments. Six months following an operation, it was also dependent on alcohol intake. Physical functioning was the area that decreased the most in the six months after colorectal tumor surgery compared to the period before surgery. Health behaviors such as cessation of smoking, engagement in physical activity, and the consumption of healthy food contributed to a higher quality of life among patients prior to resecting colorectal cancer and six months after the procedure. Patients who received adjuvant/neoadjuvant therapy had a lower quality of life than patients who did not receive this type of therapy. The kind of surgery (laparoscopic hemicolectomy, lower anterior rectum resection, or abdominoperineal rectum resection) was not related to QoL six months after surgery.

Keywords: quality of life; colorectal cancer; health behaviors; smoking; alcohol; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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