Purpose: This study was done to identify the influencing factors on their quality of life in thyroid cancer patients after thyroidectomy. Methods: Data were collected by structured questionnaires from 125 patients with thyroid cancer who were receiving operation and outpatient medical examination in K general hospital in G city from 8. 20. 2013 to 9. 28. 2013. The instruments used in this study were the cancer patients’ fatigue measurement tool, the depression scale, and QOL-Thyroid scale for patients with thyroid cancer. Collected data were analyzed through a SPSS/WIN 21.0 program for frequency, percentage, means, SD, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: The results of the study show that the average subject’s fatigue degree was 2.73(out of a total of 5), depression degree was 1.94(out of a total of 4), and QOL degree was 6.12 (out of a total of 10). The personal characteristics that showed a significant difference in QOL were level of education, low radioiodine therapy, changes weight before diagnosis and fatigue feeling before diagnosis. There was a significant negative correlation between physical, behavioral, emotional, spiritual and cognitive fatigue, depression and QOL. The results of stepwise regression analysis showed that factors affecting QOL in thyroid cancer patients after thyroidectomy were depression, spiritual fatigue, physical fatigue which explained 57.2%. Conclusion: Therefore, it is necessary to develop practice and nursing programs reducing physical fatigue and psychological depression for thyroid cancer patients after thyroidectomy. In addition, through active nursing interventions, their quality of life will be enhanced.


Key Words: Thyroid cancer, Fatigue, Depression, Quality of life