Quality of life after thyroid surgery

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to inquire how patients' quality of life is affected after thyroid surgery and the factors involved.

Methods

A semi-structured questionnaire and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF) were applied to 101 patients prior to surgery. Thereafter data was collected in the early and again in the late post-operative period.

Results

Mean general health score for pre-operative quality of life was 6.72 ± 1.53 (3–10), mean physical field score was 22.81 ± 2.77 (17–31), mean psychological field score was 21.69 ± 2.78 (15–28), mean social field score was 11.10 ± 1.94 (5–15) and mean environmental field score was 27.86 ± 4.30 (18–39). In the early post-operative period, mean general health score was 7.05 ± 1.45 (4–10), mean physical field score was 22.84 ± 2.83 (14–29), mean psychological field score was 21.67 ± 2.32 (16–27), mean social field score was 10.89 ± 1.96 (5–15) and mean environmental field score was 28.56 ± 4.18 (18–40). In the late post-operative period, the general health score for quality of life was 7.43 ± 1.34 (4–10), mean physical field score was 23.59 ± 2.70 (17–35), mean psychological field score was 21.75 ± 2.34 (14–29), mean social field score was 11.23 ± 1.94 (6–15) and mean on-field environment score was 29.30 ± 3.96 (16–40). The pre-operative levels of symptoms were found to be higher than early and late post-operative periods.

Conclusions

Quality of life increased after total thyroidectomy and statistically significant improvement was observed in late post-operative stage.

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