Quality of Life of Post-Thyroidectomy Patients Before and After the Radioactive Iodine Ablation Therapy: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Authors

  • Col AKM Farhad Hossain ADMS, 24, Infantry Division, Chottogram Cantonment
  • Sayada Fatema Khatun Associate professor, Gynae Oncology, Bangladesh Medical University
  • Ifrat Jahan Mousome Research Fellow, Department of Community Medicine, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM)
  • Md Ziaul Islam Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, Director, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/jopsom.v44i2.89235

Keywords:

Quality of life, Thyroid cancer, radioactive iodine ablation

Abstract

Background: Postoperative radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation is used in thyroid cancer patients to eliminate residual malignant tissue to reduce recurrence risk and improve quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to evaluate the changes in QoL among thyroid cancer patients before and after RAI therapy following thyroidectomy.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted from August 2022 to July 2025, including 218 thyroid cancer patients post thyroidectomy at Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Dhaka. Data were collected through face-to-face interview using a validated, pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire at one and three months after surgery (pre-RAI and post-RAI), during which QoL was assessed using the FACT-G scale. Informed consent was obtained from all participant addressing proper ethical issues.

Results: The study demonstrated a predominance of female participants (64.2%), with a mean age of 44.14 ± 15.41 years; approximately half of the respondents were aged below 40 years. The majority had attained education up to the SSC level (37.6%), was married (72.9%), and belonged to lower-income groups (74.3%), with housewives comprising the largest occupational category (34.9%). Males had slightly higher median QoL scores than females (97 vs. 96; p < 0.05) post-RAI therapy. Younger age, higher educational attainment, marital status, and employment were associated to higher median improvements in QoL scores. (p < 0.05). Significant increase in median overall QoL scores from 48 to 96 (p < 0.01), with notable improvements in the physical (7 to 25), social (17 to 24), emotional (7 to 23), and functional (16 to 25) domains. Additionally, older age and marital status was significantly associated to lower QoL (OR = 0.100, p < 0.05) while higher educational attainment was strongly associated with improved QoL (OR = 1507.114).

Conclusion: Radioactive iodine ablation significantly improves multiple Quality of life dimensions in thyroid cancer survivors underscoring its broad therapeutic value.

JOPSOM 2025; 44(2): 13-21

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Published

2026-06-04

How to Cite

Hossain, C. A. F., Sayada Fatema Khatun, Ifrat Jahan Mousome, & Md Ziaul Islam. (2026). Quality of Life of Post-Thyroidectomy Patients Before and After the Radioactive Iodine Ablation Therapy: A Quasi-Experimental Study . Journal of Preventive and Social Medicine, 44(2), 13–21. https://doi.org/10.3329/jopsom.v44i2.89235

Issue

Vol. 44 No. 2 (2025)

Section

Original Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Col AKM Farhad Hossain, Sayada Fatema Khatun, Ifrat Jahan Mousome, Md Ziaul Islam

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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