Exploring health-related quality of life among non-Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors after completion of primary treatment: a cross-sectional study in Thailand

Abstract

Purposes: To investigate health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and its influencing factors among non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) survivors after completion of primary treatment.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with 312 NHL survivors after completing primary treatment using self-reported data collected through face-to-face interviews or postal survey between May 2019 and December 2019. Sociodemographic factors, clinical characteristics, physical symptom distress, anxiety, depression, unmet supportive care needs, and adaptation (post-traumatic growth and post-traumatic stress disorder) were assessed. Data analysis included ANOVA tests to investigate HR-QoL among NHL survivors at different time points and GEE to assess predictors of HR-QoL.

Results: The mean score of HR-QoL was 136.05 (SD 19.12). HR-QoL scores reported by NHL survivors in phase I (6 months or less post-treatment) were significantly lower than those in phase II (> 6 months-4 years), phase III (> 4-9 years), and phase IV (over 9 years post-treatment). Regarding HR-QoL domains, NHL survivors in phase I had significantly lower physical well-being and functional well-being scores than those in phases II, III, and IV; and significantly lower lymphoma domain score than those in phase III. GEE analysis showed that physical symptom distress, anxiety, depression, unmet supportive care needs, poor adaptation, and receiving chemotherapy disrupted HR-QoL (all P < .001).

Conclusions: Healthcare providers should re-prioritize intervention guidelines and survivorship care planning to promote HR-QoL among NHL survivors, particularly in phase I, through reducing physical and psychological symptom distress, addressing unmet needs, and enhancing adaptation outcomes.

Keywords: Adaptation; HR-QoL; Non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors; Symptom distress; Unmet supportive care needs.