RESILIENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN ONCOLOGY PATIENTS

Abstract

Introduction: Oncology patients can be included in the risk group of reduced quality of life due to
specific health problems, side effects of treatment, but also changed life circumstances that accompany
the disease. Many experts believe that a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of oncology patients
can improve their resilience and quality of life.
Objective: Explore the correlation between resilience and quality of life in oncology patients.
Subjects and methods: The study sample consisted of oncology patients treated at the Clinic for
Oncology of the University Clinical Hospital Mostar (N = 50). A sociodemographic questionnaire
specifically designed for the study, a WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire for quality of life assessment, and
a CD-RISC-25 resilience scale were used for data collection.
Results: There was a statistically significant correlation between all domains of quality of life and
resilience. The strongest correlation was found between the domain for psychological health and
resilience. Subjects with stage 4 cancer had the lowest score on the physical health scale. There were no
statistically significant differences in other domains of quality of life and resilience among subjects in
relation to the stage of the disease. There were no statistically significant differences in resilience and
quality of life among subjects in relation to length of treatment.
Conclusion: Oncology patients with a higher level of resilience had a higher level of quality of life.