Evaluation of fatigue and quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal system cancer

This descriptive research was conducted to evaluate fatigue and quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal system cancer. The research ; with 233 GIS cancer patients who received treatment at Karadeniz Technical University Farabi Hospital and who met the research criteria and accepted to participate in the study. Data were collected using the questionnaire which was prepared by the investigator and which included questions about sociodemographic variables and the disease; Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS); Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS); and EORTC QLQ C-30 Quality of Life Scale. Of the patients who participated in the research, 56.7% were male, 87.6% were married, 32.2% were in the age group of 57-72 years,and age average was determined as 56.4±15.8 years. It was observed that 59.7% of the patients obtained a mean score of 70 from KPS score and a total mean score of 6.2±1.9 from PFS. There was a statistically significant difference between patients? PFS total mean scores and their age, education, economic status, place of residence and KPS score (p<0.05). There was also a statistically significant difference between patients? total mean scores of quality of life, and the type of treatment they received, KPS scores and the presence of people who provided them with social support (p<0.05). A highly significant correlation was found between quality of life and fatigue scale and KPS (p=0,00). İt was concluded that the fatigue and performance experienced by GIS patient affected the life quality of patients. Therefore, İt can be suggested that nurses should evaluate the fatigue and performance level of patients with GIS , in addition, they should help them to provide social needs to raise life quality and they should also plan and perform the care of patients according to these requirements.Keywords: Gastrointestinal System Cancers, Cancer, Quality Of Life, Fatigue.