Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Cancer in India: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer poses numerous health-related threats to patients, significantly impacting their Quality of Life (QoL) and that of their caregivers. This systematic review aims to assess the prevalence and severity of QoL-related health issues among cancer survivors in India using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) framework. The review will explore the patients’ lived experiences that will ultimately manifest the importance of health-related QoL for cancer patients. Method: The PRISMA guidelines were followed to conduct the review. PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were searched for eligible studies, resulting in the inclusion of 34 quantitative descriptive studies focusing on adult cancer patients in India. Results: Most of the included studies reported low or below-average overall QoL of the patients. Factors such as pain, fatigue, emotional distress, social relationships, and financial burden significantly influenced overall QoL and its subdomains. Demographic factors (age, marital status, religion), cancer-related variables (stage, site, treatment type), and social determinants of health (education, information access) also played roles in affecting QoL. Due to study inconsistencies, conclusive comparisons were challenging. Conclusion: The findings underscore the necessity for a comprehensive, culturally adapted approach to enhancing QoL, along with the development of standardized assessment tools and longitudinal study designs.

Keywords

• Cancer
• Health-related Quality of life (HRQoL)
• India
• World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)