A Comparative Study on the Characteristics of Cancer Patients and Cancer Survivors

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify and compare the characteristics of cancer patients and cancer survivors. METHODS: This study used data from the Korea National and Health Nutrition Examination Survey (2010~2015), conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This study included 455 cancer patients and 567 cancer survivors. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-tests, and χ2. RESULTS: Cancer survivors were less compliant compared to cancer patients in drinking frequency (χ2=13.12, p ≤.001), drinking volume (χ2=13.35, p=.001) and cancer screening tests (χ2=4.79, p=.029). Cancer patients showed higher body weight change compared to cancer survivors (χ2=7.37, p=.025). There was no difference in quality of life (QoL) between the two groups (t=1.38, p=.169). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that cancer survivors have poor living habits and no improvement in QoL compared to cancer patients. Oncology nurses should pay attention to cancer survivors compliance of living habits to prevent secondary cancer and to improve their QoL.