PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the quality of life reported by patients with multiple myeloma and secondly to identify the factors that impact the quality of life (QoL).
METHODS
189 patients with multiple myeloma completed survey questionnaires. Quality of life was evaluated using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core (EORTC QLQ-C) 30 and Multiple Myeloma (MY) 20. The data were analyzed using the t-test, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, Duncan test and the Mann-Whitney test.
RESULTS
The mean score for each subscale of EORTC QLQ-C30 was 53.35 for global health status, 73.37 for functional scale, and 31.29 for symptom scale. The mean score for each subscale of EORTC QLQ-MY20 was 60.49 for future perspective, 59.78 for body image, 20.25 for disease symptom and 24.99 for side effect of treatment. Quality of life was reported to be significantly lower among females, unemployed, dependence on a sibling for financial support for treatment, a diagnosis of anemia, having treatment, high score on Eastern Coorperative Oncology Group and high grade peripheral neuropathy.
CONCLUSION
The results of the survey can identify characteristics impacting the QoL of patients with multiple myeloma. Developing appropriate educational strategies and nursing interventions would enhance their QoL.

Citations

• Factors Influencing Resilience in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: A Cross-Sectional Study
  Hae-Lyeon Jeon, Hye-Ah Yeom
  Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2024; 36(1): 41.     CrossRef
• Factors influencing supportive care needs of multiple myeloma patients treated with chemotherapy
  Yoo-Rin Cho, Yang-Sook Yoo
  Supportive Care in Cancer.2020; 28(4): 1783.     CrossRef
• Factors Affecting Cognitive Function in Patients with Stomach Cancer
  Yeoung Ji Yu, Seung Hee Ahn, Yong Ae Cho, Eunjung Ryu, Eun-Ju Kim
  Asian Oncology Nursing.2018; 18(4): 241.     CrossRef