Quality of Life Among Cancer Patients at Kosti Teaching Hospital, White Nile State, Sudan

Background Quality of life (QoL) is a critical outcome of cancer treatment, encompassing the physical, psychological, social, and functional well-being of patients. Evaluating QoL and its influencing factors is essential for the development of supportive care strategies. This study assessed the QoL of patients with cancer at the Kosti Oncology Unit in Sudan and examined its association with sociodemographic, clinical, and socioeconomic variables. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 188 cancer patients. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, including the EORTC QLQ-C30. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage) and inferential analyses (chi-square tests) were used to analyse variations in QoL scores based on sex, age, income, and employment status. Results The overall global health status/QoL was low (mean = 33.82, SD = 14.66). Physical (48.37 ± 26.53) and role functioning (53.19 ± 43.35) were significantly impaired, while emotional (78.63 ± 27.53) and cognitive functioning (78.19 ± 28.32) were relatively preserved. Symptom burden was high, with the most severe scores for dyspnea (85.64 ± 29.66), diarrhoea (80.67 ± 35.14), nausea/vomiting (76.51 ± 31.82), constipation (75.00 ± 39.70), and insomnia (73.23 ± 38.98). Financial difficulties were notably more prevalent among higher-income groups (48.04 ± 44.34, p < 0.001). Employment and income significantly affected the global QoL (p = 0.008) and symptom burden (p = 0.021). Age-related differences were observed in constipation (p = 0.040) and diarrhoea (p = 0.040), with younger patients reporting better physical and cognitive functioning. Conclusions Cancer patients in Kosti face significant QoL challenges, particularly in terms of physical and role functioning, with marked socioeconomic disparities. Urgent targeted interventions are necessary to address the symptom burden, provide psychosocial support, and alleviate financial challenges to improve patient outcomes.