Quality of Life and Associated Factors Among Adult Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy at Tigray, Ethiopia 2024/25: A Mixed Study

Background Cancer is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in every part of the world, regardless of human development. Globally, there were 10.0 million recorded deaths and 19.3 million new cases of cancer in 2020. Objectives This study aimed to assess quality of life and associated factors among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at the comprehensive specialized hospitals of Tigray, Ethiopia, 2024/25. Method and Materials: A hospital-based mixed study design was conducted from December-January 2024 GC for quantitative and from 1 April to 21 April for qualitative data on patients (492) at comprehensive specialized hospitals Tigray region, Ethiopia. A systematic sampling method was used to select study participants for the quantitative part, and a purposive sample method was used for the qualitative. For the Quantitative data, EpiData version 4.6 was used for entry, and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 27 was used for analysis.Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was done, and variables having a p-value of < 0.25 were considered candidates for multivariable logistic regression. P-value of < 0.05 was used as the criterion for statistical significance, and the qualitative data were analyzed by thematic analysis using the software Archive of Technology Life world and Language Text Interpretation (ATLAS.TI) version 7.5.8 software. Results From 478 patients included in this study, 74.9%,95% CI (70.8–79.9%) of cancer patients on chemotherapy had poor quality of life, College and above [AOR = 0.36,95%CI (0.16–0.83)] underweight(AOR = 3, 95% CI (1.28–7.47),anxiety[AOR = 2.7, 95% CI (1.29–5.7)],five and above chemotherapy cycle were 57% [AOR = 0.43,95%CI(0.19–0.95)] and stage 4 cancer (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI (1.06,-6.38) were significantly associated with quality of life. Conclusion and recommendation: Three-fourths of the patients with cancer had a poor quality of life. Healthcare providers should also focus on addressing the side effects of therapy and providing palliative care to improve quality of life.