Relationship between of pain and daily life acivities to geriatric cancer patients

This study was performed in order to determine the relationship between pain levels and daily activities of cancer patients treated in the oncology units of Çukurova Universty Hospital. Before the study, it was allowed from Ethics Committee of Çukurova University, hospital administer and patients. The study sample was determined by power analysis of the sample and completed with 93 patients. Data of research was gathered by question form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), daily activities scale, instrumental daily activities scale. In Visual Analog Scale on a 10 cm straight line used to determine the severity and level of the patients' pain: 0 express no pain, 10 express severe pain. The daily living activities and instrumental daily activities scale evaluated by if person make his/her daily activities individually 3 points, or with help of someone 2 points, never does 1 point. In daily life activities it is evaluated as 0-6 points dependent,7-12 points semi-dependent,13-18 points independent. In instrumantel Daily activities scale 0-8 points dependent, 9-16 points semi-dependent, 17-24 points independent. Gathered datas evaluated with computer environment and appropriate statistical methods. Average ages of geriatric patients determined as 68.5±4.0 and %61.3 are men. It is revealed that average of patients severe pains 3.0±2.8, in daily life activities 16.1±3.0 and in instrumental daily activities average is 15.1±5.7. It is seen that there is meaningful relationship betweeen severe of pain and daily life activities and instrumental daily life activities (p<0.05). It is seen that place of pain and duration, time of pain dont affect the daily life activities. These results indicate that aged cancer patients who received chemotherapy treatment affected their daily living activities adversely. Therefore, it is advisable to evaluate the pain levels and daily activities of geriatric patients and take necessary precautions.