Quality of Life and Associated Factors Among Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care in Western Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study

Why It Matters

Low QoL signals gaps in Uganda’s palliative services, affecting patient wellbeing and health‑system costs; addressing pain, disease stage, and radiotherapy access can markedly improve outcomes.

Key Takeaways

• Study of 204 Ugandan cancer patients shows low overall QoL.
• Symptom domain scored lowest, indicating high pain and discomfort.
• Advanced disease stage correlates with poorer QoL scores.
• Radiotherapy receipt improves QoL compared to no radiotherapy.
• Effective pain management identified as critical for better QoL.

Pulse Analysis

In sub‑Saharan Africa, palliative care remains under‑resourced, yet quality of life (QoL) is the primary endpoint for patients with advanced cancer. The recent cross‑sectional survey of 204 individuals receiving hospice services in Western Uganda fills a critical evidence gap by applying the Missoula‑Vitas Quality of Life Index (MVQOLI‑15R), a validated instrument that captures physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. With a mean global score of 3.47 on a 0‑to‑5 scale, the cohort demonstrates markedly low QoL, underscoring the urgency of targeted interventions.

The analysis pinpoints symptom burden as the weakest domain, with patients reporting the lowest scores on pain and related discomfort. This aligns with the finding that higher pain intensity is a strong predictor of diminished QoL, reinforcing the need for robust analgesic protocols. Moreover, patients who received radiotherapy reported better overall scores, suggesting that curative‑intent or palliative radiation can alleviate symptom clusters and improve functional status. Advanced disease stage, conversely, was associated with a steep QoL decline, highlighting the cost of delayed diagnosis in a setting where early‑stage treatment options are limited.

From a health‑system perspective, these insights call for integrated palliative pathways that combine early cancer detection, access to radiotherapy, and standardized pain‑management algorithms. Investing in training for hospice staff and expanding radiotherapy capacity could translate into measurable QoL gains, reducing caregiver strain and potentially lowering downstream hospitalization costs. Policymakers should also consider subsidizing essential analgesics and establishing referral networks to ensure that patients present before disease progression erodes functional reserves. Future research should track longitudinal QoL changes post‑intervention to validate the impact of these recommended service enhancements.