| The specific aims of this study are to: (1) describe Quality of Life (QOL) domains that are most likely to deteriorate following HSCT treatment among Jordanian cancer survivors; (2) examine how QOL among Jordanian Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) survivors differs from an age-, gender- and education-matched healthy comparison group; (3) identify demographic and medical variables, social support as well as self-reported symptom prevalence and severity, associated with variance in post-HSCT QOL.; A descriptive, cross-sectional, exploratory study design was used to describe the quality of life of Jordanians post HSCT. Participants for this study were survivors who had undergone HSCT at King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) in Jordan and healthy participants in the comparison group. Participants in both groups were asked to complete the demographic data form and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). In addition, HSCT survivors were asked to complete the Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) (Arabic version), a needs assessment addendum to EORTC (Arabic version), and two open-ended questions to measure spirituality. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Data from the open-ended questions regarding spirituality were content analyzed by themes.; Despite the fact that most Jordanian survivors reported a moderate to high QOL score, there were many deficits in the areas of physical, psychological, and social domains. These areas include, but are not limited to, difficulties in daily activities, irritability, worries about health and future, depression, financial problems, fatigue, shortness of breath and insomnia. There were significant differences between the HSCT group and comparison group on physical functioning and social functioning. Narrative analyses revealed that survivors used spiritual beliefs and practices in order to help them deal with this invasive procedure. Many spiritual beliefs and practices had changed as a result of having HSCT. The EORTC QLQ-C30 instrument was deemed successful in assessing the QOL of Jordanian survivors. Five items were identified by survivors as items that needed to be added. |
