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Tuesday, June 15, 2010: 5:07 PM
An Evaluation of the Quality of Life in Patients with Tracheostomy.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life in patients with tracheostomy.
Due to larynx cancer, the performing of tracheostomy causes alterations in the lifestyle of the individual in physiological, psychological and social aspects.
All the patients, who have had tracheostomy operations between 1998-2009 at aUniversity Hospital , constitute the population of the study (70 patients). The data have been collected between June -July 2009 by using the Short Form 36 Quality of Life Scale.
Mean ± standard deviations are given in the results and tables. Mann–Whitney U-tests and Kruskall-Wallis H test were used for the statistical analysis.
It has determined that 30% of the patients have had difficulty in breathing. 28,5% state that their sense of smell has decreased a little, 22.9% of them have no sense of smell at all, and 40% of them have suffered difficulties while eating.
It has been determined that the QOL scores of patients, whose life span with tracheostomy is 3 months–1 year, who have received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, who have difficulties in breathing and eating in the various sub-dimensions of the QOL scale are lower. Together with this, it has been determined that the scores of patients who can perform their tracheostomy care independently, have no complications, use esophageal speaking method, whose sense of smell has not been impaired, state that their physical appearance has not been affected and express that their social relations have been affected positively or have not changed in the various sub-dimensions the QOL scale are higher.
These findings confirm that tracheostomy has a profoundly negative impact on QOL. Specialized counseling of these patients by a dedicated team may improve QOL significantly.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life in patients with tracheostomy.
Due to larynx cancer, the performing of tracheostomy causes alterations in the lifestyle of the individual in physiological, psychological and social aspects.
All the patients, who have had tracheostomy operations between 1998-2009 at a
Mean ± standard deviations are given in the results and tables. Mann–Whitney U-tests and Kruskall-Wallis H test were used for the statistical analysis.
It has determined that 30% of the patients have had difficulty in breathing. 28,5% state that their sense of smell has decreased a little, 22.9% of them have no sense of smell at all, and 40% of them have suffered difficulties while eating.
It has been determined that the QOL scores of patients, whose life span with tracheostomy is 3 months–1 year, who have received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, who have difficulties in breathing and eating in the various sub-dimensions of the QOL scale are lower. Together with this, it has been determined that the scores of patients who can perform their tracheostomy care independently, have no complications, use esophageal speaking method, whose sense of smell has not been impaired, state that their physical appearance has not been affected and express that their social relations have been affected positively or have not changed in the various sub-dimensions the QOL scale are higher.
These findings confirm that tracheostomy has a profoundly negative impact on QOL. Specialized counseling of these patients by a dedicated team may improve QOL significantly.