Self-perceived health and its determinants in cancer patients: A population-based study in Albania
PO-1069
Abstract
Self-perceived health and its determinants in cancer patients: A population-based study in Albania
Authors: Fatjona Kraja1, Adrian Hoti2, Bledi Kreka1, Ilir Akshija3, Bledar Kraja4
1University Hospital Center "Mother Teresa', Oncology, Tirana, Albania; 2University Hospital Center "Mother Teresa', Radiology, Tirana, Albania; 3University Hospital Center "Mother Teresa', Statistics, Tirana, Albania; 4University Hospital Center "Mother Teresa', Gastrohepathology, Tirana, Albania
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Purpose or Objective
Self-perceived health is considered a subjective perception of health, quality of life and a multidimensional indicator for the overall assessment of health associated with mortality and morbidity. The aim of our study was to evaluate the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors determining the self-perceived health in cancer patients in Albania. |
Material and Methods
This is a population based cross sectional study. Data from 12554 individuals aged >35 years in the framework of Albanian Living Measurement Survey (LSMS), were included in the analysis. In order for the sample estimates from the Albania LSMS to be representative of the population, the data were multiplied by a sampling weight. The study participants rated their health in five categories: very good, good, average, poor and very poor, which in the analyses were dichotomized into “not poor” and “poor health”. All participants that reported the presence of cancer as the chronic disease that affects them the most, were selected. Information on socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, education, employment status, residence) and lifestyle factors (smoking and alcohol consumption) were collected.Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 26 (SPSS, Chicago, IL).
Results
The weighted data showed that only 1.5% of the standardized population reported cancer as a chronic disease that causes them disability. The male female rate was 1:2.7. Upon multivariable adjustment for all covariates, factor affecting self-perceived health in cancer patients were age, sex, educational level, employment status, living in urban vs rural area, and region (p< 0.0001); smoking (p=0.01) and alcohol consumption (p=0.03). Significant correlates of poor self-perceived health status in cancer were female sex, (OR=1.4, 95%CI=1.3-1.5), living in urban area (OR=1.5, 95%CI=1.1-1.3), alcohol consumption (OR=1.3, 95%CI=1.1-1.6), non smoking (OR=2.0, 95%CI=1.7-2.5).
Conclusion
Our findings represent the only report on SPH in cancer patients in Albania and indicate a significant relationship of self-perceived health in cancer patients with demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. Further population-based studies are needed to have more comparable results in order to promote an improvement in these factors and in self perceived health in cancer patients as an indicator of life quality.