Prevalence of constipation in patients undergoing chemotherapy and the effect of constipation on quality of life

This study, was conducted with descriptive and cross-sectional design to determine the frequency of constipation in patients undergoing chemotherapy and the effect of constipation on quality of life. The sample of the study consisted of 252 patients undergoing chemotherapy between January 2021-March 2021 in an ambulatory chemotherapy unit of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Training and Research Hospital. The data were collected through face-to-face interview technique using the "Patient Information Form", "Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Scale", "Constipation Severity Scale (CSS)", "Constipation Quality of Life Scale (CQLS)", and "Bristol Stool Chart". The data were analyzed using percentage, minimum and maximum values, independent samples t test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis analysis of variance, Pearson's Correlation Analysis, and Spearman's Correlation Analysis. Constipation severity score of the patients included in the study was moderate (30.48±13.87) and frequency of constipation was 31.7%. It was determined that constipation-associated quality of life of the patients was negatively affected at moderate level (71.79±18.74). There was a statistically significant difference between gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), educational level, the use of analgesics, anti-emetics and antiulcer mediations, hemorrhoid disease, ECOG performance score, appetite and state of doing physical activity, and CSS mean scores (p<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between gender, educational level, ECOG performance score, the use of analgesics, anti-emetics and antiulcer mediations, hypertension and hemorrhoid disease, type of toilet used and appetite and the CQLS mean scores (p<0.05). Consequently, constipation was observed in one third of cancer patients undergoing ambulatory chemotherapy. The constipation severity of the patients was at moderate level and their quality of life was negatively affected at a moderate level.