Quality of Life and Selected Psychological variables in Patients with Pituitary Tumour after Surgery : A Prospective Study

Abstract

Introduction : Quality of life and psychological wellbeing are two things which very significant for having normal functional life in case of post-operative pituitary tumour patients. However, both of them are not full addressed till now. So, this study aimed to assess quality of life and selected psychosocial variables in patients with pituitary tumours after surgery. Methodology : This is quantitative research with prospective method. By using total enumeration technique, 30 postoperative patients with pituitary tumour admitted in the Neurosurgery units, Nehru Hospital, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. Ethical clearance obtained and consent was taken from participants. Tools used for data collection were interview schedule used on enrolment, Sino-nasal Outcome Test -22 (SNOTs-22) for Sino-nasal quality of life (QOL), Visual Function Scale-11 (VF-11) for Visual QOL and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF) for Health Related QOL, Cornell Dysthymia Rating Scale for Dysthymia and Apathy Elevation Scale for Apathy used at three months. Results : In present study 46.7% patients were above 51 years and 70% females with mean age of 49.46±13.6 years and 70% having non-functional pituitary tumours. The results show that after surgery for pituitary tumours patients were having low QOL, apathy and dysthymia. Conclusion : This study shows that after surgery for pituitary tumours patient have to face psychological problems and ruination in quality of life and there is the need of proper guidance and counselling for the patients.