Investigation of healthy living behaviors and quality of life in individuals with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The study was carried out as a descriptive work to analyze healthy life behaviors and quality of life in individuals with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 6 months and later. The scope of the study consisted of adults who had hematopoietic stem cell transplantation six or more months ago in a university hospital. The sample of the study consisted of 76 cases who included in the study that is carried out via the random sampling method. The data were collected through Information Form, Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale –II, SF-36 Quality of Life Scale and FACT-BMT scale. The evaluation of the data has been done through descriptive statistical analyzes, independent groups t-test, Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman correlation analysis. Statistical relevance has been accepted as p<0.05 The cases consisting the average age of 42.99±13.72 years including 57.9% of men, 67.1% of married, 44.7% of having autologous transplantation, 51.3% of having allogeneic transplantation, have been determined that 89.5% of them have one hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and 40.8% of them has developed complications after stem cell transplantation. It has been found as ±19.81.49.54±23.27, 52.95±21.31 and 98.56±23.02. A statistically significant difference has been obtained in the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale-II total score according to education status and radiotherapy treatment status. (P<0.05). It has been determined that SF-36 Physical Component score showed a statistically significant difference according to working status, receiving radiotherapy treatment, developing complications, and re- hospitalization after discharge (p<0.05). It has been confirmed that the SF-36 Mental Component score showed a statistically significant difference according to the working status and having regular vaccinations after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (p<0.05). A statistically significant difference has been found between the FACT-BMT scores according to the post-transplant complication development status (p<0.05). There were weak correlations between The Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale-II total score and the SF-36 Physical Component score (r=0.273 p<0.017) and FACT- BMT total score (r= 0.385 p<0.001). As a result of this study, it has been confirmed that the healthy lifestyle behaviors and quality of the life of the patients in the late/post period after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were moderate. It has been determined that healthy lifestyle behaviors of those with higher education levels and those who did not receive radiotherapy treatment were significantly better. It was determined that the physical quality of life of the patients who were working, didn`t receive radiotherapy, did not develop complications, and were not experienced rehospitalization, were significantly better. It was determined that the mental quality of life of those who did not have complications and who had their vaccinations regularly was better. It was determined that healthy lifestyle behaviors accounted for 7% of the explained variance in the physical quality of life and 15% of the variance in the cancer spesific quality of life . Keywords: Stem Cell Transplantation, Hematopoietic, Quality of Life, Health Promotion, Transplantation Nursing.