Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Postoperative Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients Undergoing Colorectal Cancer Surgery

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the predictive effects of social determinants of health–specifically financial status, neighborhood environment, body mass index, anxiety, and family support–on the health–related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients undergoing colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with patients who underwent elective colorectal surgery and were in the postoperative period of one month in a super-tertiary hospital in Thailand. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed with descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. Results: A total of 130 patients were enrolled, with 71 patients (54.6%) having fewer complications. Patients who have undergone CRC surgery had an average HRQoL score of 111.9 ± 11.9. Notably, the HRQoL after surgery was higher than before, reflecting an increase of 78.5%. The significant predictive factors of HRQoL were financial status (β = 0.56, p < 0.001), followed by anxiety (β = –0.172, p = 0.011), body mass index (β = 0.171, p = 0.008), and family support (β = 0.15, p = 0.022). Conclusion: Nurses should develop practice guidelines to promote HRQoL in postoperative CRC patients after discharge by screening financial status, body mass index, anxiety, and family support. These guidelines should serve as a framework for planning ongoing care for patients and their families once they return home, ensuring that their physical, emotional, and social needs are effectively addressed during their recovery process.