QUALITY OF LIFE DETERMINANTS AMONG HEMATO-ONCOLOGY PATIENTS UNDERGOING PALLIATIVE CHEMOTHERAPY

Abstract

This study investigates the multidimensional determinants of quality of life (QoL) among hemato-oncology patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy, focusing on the interplay between clinical symptoms, psychological stressors, social support structures, and treatment-related toxicities. Using a mixed-methods design, quantitative assessments of fatigue, pain, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and functional decline were analyzed alongside qualitative insights into emotional burden, caregiver involvement, and financial strain. The findings reveal that symptom burden—particularly fatigue, pain intensity, and insomnia—constitutes the strongest predictor of QoL deterioration, while emotional distress and anxiety further exacerbate vulnerability during chemotherapy cycles. Chemotherapy-related toxicities significantly diminished physical functioning and contributed to treatment exhaustion, whereas financial toxicity emerged as an independent driver of psychological distress and perceived QoL decline. Social support demonstrated a protective effect, with patients reporting stronger caregiver involvement exhibiting higher resilience and improved emotional stability. The integrated results emphasize that QoL in palliative hemato-oncology care cannot be understood in isolation from the socioeconomic and psychosocial contexts in which patients live. The study concludes that effective QoL enhancement requires early, holistic, and multidisciplinary palliative interventions that combine symptom management, psychological counseling, supportive care, and financial guidance. These findings hold critical implications for clinical practice, informing tailored care pathways and policy considerations aimed at improving the well-being, dignity, and lived experiences of patients receiving palliative chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies.