Introduction Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of death worldwide. Control of Tuberculosis is a serious challenge to global health. A new and potentially devastating threat to TB control is the emergence of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). South Africa was ranked fourth among the countries with the highest number of confirmed MDR-TB cases. Aim The aim was to investigate the annual MDR-TB prevalence and associated risk factors for MDR-TB from 2001 to 2007 at the Prince Cyril Zulu Communicable Disease Centre. To investigate previous TB treatment duration, previous TB treatment outcome, and duration of previous TB treatment interruption in a subgroup of patients who were previously treated for TB. To determine the average length of time from diagnosis of TB to diagnosis of MDR-TB and commencement of MDR-TB treatment. Methods An observational analytic nested case-control study design was used. All patients who were diagnosed with pulmonary TB and who had a sputum culture performed between 2001 and 2007 were included in the study. The cases were all MDR-TB cases diagnosed on sputum culture between 2001 and 2007. The controls were drug susceptible TB cases which had a sputum culture done at diagnosis, and were diagnosed in the same month as the MDR-TB case Results There were 10 205 sputum cultures performed from 2001 to 2007. MDR-TB was found in 445 patients. An increase in the prevalence of MDR-TB occurred in 2007, due to a significant increase in prevalence among new TB cases. The MDR-TB prevalence was 11.7% among new TB cases and 4.7% among previously treated TB cases in 2007. There was no significant association between demographic characteristics and MDR-TB. Previous TB treatment failure and a duration of previous TB treatment of greater than 32 weeks was found to be significantly associated with MDR-TB. The median time from TB diagnosis to MDR-TB diagnosis was 98 day and from MDR-TB diagnosis to MDR-TB treatment 10 days. Discussion Delays in the diagnosis of MDR-TB, long waiting times before MDR-TB treatment commencement and lack of isolation have contributed to the spread of primary MDR-TB and was most likely responsible for the increase in prevalence of MDR-TB among new TB cases. Recommendations It was suggested that a sputum specimen should be obtained for culture and sensitivity from all new TB patients in areas which have an MDR-TB prevalence of greater than 3% among new TB patients. Ensure patient education on basic infection control measures. Improve MDR-TB diagnosis and reduce waiting times for MDR-TB treatment. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

Wartezeiten von durchschnittlich mehreren Monaten sind auch nach Inkrafttreten des Psychotherapeutengesetzes in der deutschen Psychotherapieversorgung die Regel. Behandlungsbedürftige Störungen, für die ein Behandlungswunsch besteht, unversorgt zu lassen, ist weder unter ethischen, noch praktischen und therapeutischen Gesichtspunkten vertretbar. Aus diesem Grund schlagen viele Praktiker ihren wartenden Patienten niedrigschwellige Selbsthilfeangebote vor, die von psychoedukativen Informationen über Bibliotherapie bis zu Gruppenangeboten reichen. Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt einen Überblick über verschiedene Möglichkeiten, wartende Psychotherapiepatienten gut auf die bevorstehende Therapie vorzubereiten und während der Wartezeit zugleich sekundäre Prävention zu betreiben. Hierbei muss nach unserer Einschätzung vor allem die Maxime gelten, dass die vorgeschlagenen Maßnahmen mit dem Rational der darauf folgenden Therapie vereinbar sein sollten. / Even after the new psychotherapy law has been implemented, waiting times of several months remain rather common in the German mental health care system. For ethical, practical, and therapeutic reasons, however, patients who are in serious need of treatment should not be left unattended. Many practitioners therefore suggest self-help treatments such as psychoeducational information, bibliotherapy, or supportive groups to their waiting patients. The present study provides an overview on possibilities of preparing waiting psychotherapy patients for their upcoming therapy as well as implementing secondary prevention during the waiting time. As a basic, we suggest that the proposed methods should be in line with the treatment rationale of the subsequent therapy. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

No description available.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2004. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

No description available.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:44:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4831.pdf: 2096066 bytes, checksum: d367da2e084bdb67e171029ec907527a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-18 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / The clinical documentation in occupational therapy is developed whenever the service is offered to a client to register and report information pertaining to care. The aim of the study is to identify how this is done and what the perception of occupational therapists about the practice of outpatient clinical documentation is. The research was conducted in two stages: documentary research, through qualitative research of legal documents in Brazil; and field research, descriptive and exploratory study, conducted with 104 active occupational therapists in the state of Sao Paulo who worked in outpatient services. This was carried out using an online questionnaire and data was analyzed using quantitative methods, descriptive statistics and specific tests for comparison and correlation of variables. The results of the field research show: 64.4% of the records are held only on paper; all respondents perform assessment records; one makes no record of intervention / monitoring; and 13.5% do not carry records of patient discharge. Also, 91.9% reported some level of satisfaction with their own record. Virtually all clinical documentation was considered to be necessary and useful. The results revealed a significant correlation (p <0.05) with the level of satisfaction with their own practice of clinical documentation the variables: considered have sufficient knowledge for the development of the records, and values attributed to the practice of clinical documentation (those who consider it complex or difficult present a lower level of satisfaction when compared to those who consider it simple or easy). As for documentary research, 123 documents of different organs of origin were selected and will be analyzed qualitatively, with 103 consisting of reports, technical notes or orders, and the rest, ordinances, resolutions, and Decree. Only 13 of them are specific to the occupational therapy. It was considered that the data obtained allowed an initial approach to the topic, identifying as clinical records are held by occupational therapists working in outpatient care and what their perception of this practice, and identify aspects that influence this perception. The documentary research helped to understand and contextualize the practice of clinical documentation in Brazil, especially in relation to occupational therapy. The study could also contribute to the identification of topics of interest for future research on the topic and to produce knowledge that can guide the development of better quality of clinical documentation by occupational therapists. / A documentação clínica em terapia ocupacional é desenvolvida sempre que o serviço é oferecido a um cliente, para registrar e comunicar as informações pertinentes ao seu atendimento. Este estudo teve por objetivo identificar como é realizada e qual a percepção dos terapeutas ocupacionais sobre a prática da documentação clínica ambulatorial. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em duas etapas: pesquisa documental, através de investigação e análise qualitativa de documentos jurídicos brasileiros; e pesquisa de campo, descritiva e exploratória, realizada com 104 terapeutas ocupacionais ativos do estado de São Paulo, que atuavam em serviços ambulatoriais. Esta etapa foi realizada através de aplicação on-line de questionário e os dados foram analisados por métodos quantitativos, com uso de estatística descritiva e testes específicos para comparação e correlação das variáveis. Os resultados da pesquisa de campo revelaram que 64,4% dos registros são realizados somente em papel. Todos os respondentes realizam registros de avaliação, um não realiza registros de intervenção/acompanhamento e 13,5% não realizam registros de alta. 91,9% referiram algum nível de satisfação com o próprio registro. Praticamente todos consideram a documentação clínica necessária e útil. Revelaram correlação significativa (p<0,05) com a satisfação em relação à própria prática da documentação clínica as variáveis: considerar possuir conhecimento suficiente para o desenvolvimento dos registros, e valores atribuídos à prática da documentação clínica, sendo que os que a consideram complexa, difícil e desgastante apresentam pior avaliação da satisfação do que aqueles que a consideram simples, fácil e tranqüila. Quanto à pesquisa documental, 123 documentos de diferentes órgãos de origem foram selecionados, sendo 103 constituídos por pareceres, notas técnicas ou despachos, e o restante, portarias, resoluções e decretos. Apenas 13 deles são específicos da terapia ocupacional. Considerou-se que os dados obtidos possibilitaram uma aproximação inicial com o tema, identificando como os registros clínicos são realizados pelos terapeutas ocupacionais que atuam em assistência ambulatorial e qual a percepção deles sobre esta prática, assim como a identificação dos aspectos que interferem nesta percepção. A pesquisa documental auxiliou a compreender e contextualizar a prática da documentação clínica no Brasil, especialmente em relação à terapia ocupacional. O estudo também pôde contribuir para a identificação de focos de interesse para futuras investigações sobre o tema e para a produção de conhecimento que possa orientar o desenvolvimento com melhor qualidade da documentação clínica por terapeutas ocupacionais.

O câncer de cólon e reto configura-se como a terceira causa mais comum de câncer no mundo, em ambos os sexos, e a segunda causa em países desenvolvidos. Estudar a qualidade de vida (QV) é fundamental para a presença de intervenções que promovam bem-estar e/ou o estar bem destes pacientes, cujo prognóstico nem sempre é o melhor. Esta dissertação tem como norte a seguinte questão: como é a qualidade de vida do paciente com câncer colorretal em quimioterapia ambulatorial? Trata-se de um estudo transversal com abordagem quantitativa descritiva, no qual buscou-se avaliar a qualidade de vida do paciente com câncer colorretal em quimioterapia ambulatorial. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em uma Unidade de Quimioterapia Ambulatorial em um hospital do sul do Brasil, cujos pacientes eram portadores do diagnóstico de câncer colorretal e foram submetidos ao tratamento com o Protocolo 5FU. A amostra contou com 48 participantes que estavam em tratamento quimioterápico por um período de 6 meses. Utilizou-se como instrumento de levantamento de dados um questionário já validado e traduzido para o português, o WHOQOL-Bref. Nos resultados encontrados, prevaleceu a idade de 50 anos ou mais, todos os participantes estavam com estadiamento Dukes B e possuíam no mínimo um mês e no máximo 11 meses de tratamento. Os domínios do WHOQOL-Bref afetados mais significativamente foram os domínios II e III (psicológico e relações sociais), respectivamente, havendo diferença nas respostas quanto à QV geral naqueles que estavam no 1º ciclo de tratamento daqueles que já se encontravam no último ciclo (6º). A qualidade de vida é resultado da combinação de fatores subjetivos e de fatores objetivos, precisando suprir às necessidades humanas integrais, em seus aspectos físicos, psicológicos, sociais e espirituais. / Cancer of the colon and rectum appears as the third most common cancer worldwide in both sexes, and the second leading cause in developed countries. Studying the quality of life (QOL) is fundamental for the existence of interventions that promote wellness and/or well-being of these patients, whose prognosis is not always the best. This thesis is guided by the following question: how is the quality of life of patients with colorectal cancer in outpatient chemotherapy? It was a cross-sectional study with a descriptive quantitative approach, which aimed at assessing the quality of life of patients with colorectal cancer in outpatient chemotherapy. The research was conducted in an Outpatient Chemotherapy Unit at a hospital in Southern Brazil, whose patients were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and were treated with 5-FU protocol. The sample had 48 participants who were undergoing chemotherapy for a period of six months. It was used as an instrument of data collection a questionnaire, which has already been validated and translated into Portuguese, the WHOQOL-Bref. In the results found, prevailed the age of 50 years or more, all participants were in Dukes stage B, with at least a month and a maximum of 11 months of treatment. / El cáncer de colon y recto se configura como la tercera causa más frecuente de cáncer en el mundo, en ambos los sexos, y la segunda en los países desarrollados. Estudiar la calidad de vida (CV) es fundamental para la presencia de intervenciones que promueven bienestar y/o el estar bien de los pacientes cuyo pronóstico no siempre sea el mejor. Esta tesina se propone a la siguiente cuestión central: ¿cómo se presenta la calidad de vida de los pacientes con cáncer colorrectal sometidos a quimioterapia ambulatoria? Se trata de un estudio transversal con un abordaje cuantitativo descriptivo en el que se ha buscado evaluar la calidad de vida de pacientes con cáncer colorrectal sometidos a quimioterapia ambulatoria. Se ha desarrollado esta investigación en una Unidad de Quimioterapia Ambulatoria de un hospital ubicado al sur de Brasil, cuyos pacientes eran portadores de diagnóstico de cáncer colorrectal y fueran sometidos al tratamiento con el Protocolo 5-FU. La muestra dispuso de 48 pacientes en tratamiento quimioterápico por un periodo de 6 meses. Se ha utilizado como instrumento de recolección de datos un cuestionario validado y traducido al portugués, el WHOQOL-Bref. En los resultados obtenidos ha prevalecido la franja de edad de 50 años o más, todos los participantes se encontraban en el estadio Dukes B y poseían como mínimo un mes y como máximo 11 meses de tratamiento. The domains of the WHOQOLBref affected more significantly were the domains II and III (psychological and social relations), respectively, with significant differences in responses regarding overall QOL in those who were in the first cycle of treatment from those already in the last cycle (6th). Quality of life is the result of a combination of subjective and objective factors, needing help meeting human needs in full, in terms of physical, psychological, social and spiritual.

Submitted by Luis Guilherme Macena (guilhermelg2004@gmail.com) on 2013-04-17T16:55:16Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese - Cecy Dunshee de Abranches.pdf: 1750782 bytes, checksum: f98d165944f2edbc9e08ef35e93c785a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-04-17T16:55:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese - Cecy Dunshee de Abranches.pdf: 1750782 bytes, checksum: f98d165944f2edbc9e08ef35e93c785a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Fernandes Figueira. Departamento de Ensino. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde da Criança e da Mulher. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / A presente tese é apresentada sob o formato de coletânea de artigos. O objeto de estudo proposto – a presença de problemas de saúde mental de adolescentes expostos à violência psicológica (VP) no contexto familiar – foi desenvolvido em quatro artigos, tendo sido o primeiro já publicado em revista científica indexada e os outros serão encaminhados para três diferentes revistas científicas indexadas. Como objetivo geral preocupou-se em investigar a existência de associação entre VP no contexto familiar e problemas de saúde em adolescentes e como objetivos específicos pretendeu-se: a) estimar a exposição à VP, no contexto familiar, em adolescentes usuários dos serviços ambulatoriais de um hospital pediátrico público terciário; b) aferir a prevalência dos problemas de saúde mental e física dos adolescentes pesquisados; c) verificar a associação entre sofrer VP na infância e adolescência no contexto familiar e aspectos sócio-demográficos e familiares; d) analisar a associação entre sofrer VP na infância e adolescência no contexto familiar e condições de saúde física dos entrevistados e e) estudar a associação entre sofrer VP na infância e adolescência no contexto familiar e capacidade de resiliência dos entrevistados. A metodologia utilizada foi um estudo transversal, em 3 serviços ambulatoriais do hospital selecionado, com uma amostra de 229 adolescentes (entre 11-18 anos) que responderam ao inquérito epidemiológico e seus responsáveis, sendo que os adolescentes que obtiveram score ≥ 63 na escala Youth Self Report - YSR (que afere problemas de comportamento) foram encaminhados para a aplicação do instrumento Schedulo for Affetive Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children- presente and lifetime -KSADS-PL (com finalidade diagnóstica de psicopatologia). Os resultados encontrados foram: A) Artigo 1: Aumento dos estudos sobre VP contra crianças e adolescentes na última década e que a conscientização e visibilidade desse abuso pode colaborar com a maior prevenção e proteção desta natureza de violência. B) Artigo 2: Encontrou-se que 26,4% enquadram-se na categorização de ter sofrido VP severa. Dos comportamentos de VP com freqüência de sempre/quase sempre apontados por mais de 10% dos entrevistados foram: ser criticado pelo que faz ou diz, não ser encorajado quando tenta atuar de forma autônoma, ser chamado por nomes desagradáveis e ter adulto dizendo que está errado ao tentar agir. A satisfação dos responsáveis com o adolescente, a estrutura familiar nuclear, a posição da criança entre os irmãos e o compartilhamento dos mesmos pais pelos irmãos mostrou-se associada à VP que ocorre no contexto familiar. C) Artigo 3: Aferindo-se os problemas de saúde mental através da escala Youth Self Report (YSR) resultou que 20,4% apresentaram pelo menos um problema de comportamento em nível clínico, destacando-se na associação com VP severa, que ansiedade/depressão apresenta OR=20,57, problemas sociais OR=10,89, problemas de pensamento OR=10,16, comportamentos agressivos OR=8,14. Na escala de resiliência encontrou-se baixo potencial de resiliência em 30,7% dos entrevistados que associado à VP severa na família apresentou que a chance de se ter baixa resiliência é de quase quatro vezes. D) Artigo 4 (em formato de comunicação breve): A seleção e revisão foram realizadas após a ocorrência das entrevistas, através do arquivo médico, no total de 172 prontuários (75,10% dos adolescentes entrevistados). Um total de 26,4% das adolescentes relatou sofrer de VP severa no contexto familiar, porém na revisão não foi encontrado nenhum relato ou notificação sobre maus-tratos. Como conclusão dessa tese tem-se que os resultados demonstram a gravidade dos danos na saúde mental de adolescentes vítimas de VP severa no contexto familiar e a importância da identificação e intervenção dessa vi natureza de violência, como fator de prevenção de problemas de saúde mental, bem como apontam para a relevância em se investir na promoção de resiliência como forma de proteção contra a VP sofrida no contexto familiar. / This thesis is presented in the form of a collection of articles. The subject of the study - the presence of mental health problems in adolescents exposed to psychological violence (PV) within the family - was developed in four articles, the first having been already published in indexed scientific journals, and others will be sent to three different journals. The general goal was to investigate a possible association between PV in the family and health problems in adolescents. The specific goals were: a) estimate exposure to PV in the family context of adolescent users in outpatient units in a state-run tertiary pediatric hospital; b) assess the prevalence of mental and physical health problems in the adolescents surveyed c) verify the association between suffering PV in childhood and adolescence in the family context and socio-demographic and family aspects; d) analyze the association between suffering PV in childhood and adolescence in the family context and the physical health status of respondents and e) study the association between suffering PV during childhood and adolescence in the family and the resilience of respondents. Methodology: a cross-sectional study, in three outpatient services in the selected hospital, with a sample of 229 adolescents (11-18 years) who responded to an epidemiological survey and their parents. The adolescents who had scored ≥ 63 on the Youth Self Report scale - YSR (which measures behavioral problems) were referred to an application of the ScheduloAffetive Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children-Present and lifetime-KSADS-PL instrument (for diagnosing psychopathologies). The results were: A) Paper 1: Increase in studies on PV against children and adolescents in the last decade and the awareness and visibility of such abuse can aid improved prevention and protection against such violence. B) Paper 2: It was found that 26.4% fit into the category of having suffered severe PV. PV behaviors with an always/almost always frequency reported by more than 10% of respondents were: being criticized by what you do or say, not being encouraged when trying to act independently, being called unpleasant names and having adults saying you are wrong when you try to act. Dissatisfaction of respondents with the adolescent, the nuclear family structure, the position of the child among siblings and the sharing of same parents by siblings showed to be associated to PV occurring within the family context. C) Paper 3: Cross-checking whether mental health problems across the Youth Self Report (YSR) range showed that 20.4% had at least one behavior problem at the clinical level, especially in association with severe PV, that anxiety/depression presents OR = 20.57, social problems OR = 10.89, thought problems OR = 10.16 and aggressive behaviors OR = 8.14. A low resilience potential, in the resilience scale, was found in 30.7% of respondents which associated to severe PV within the family and showed that the chance of having low resilience is almost four times greater. D) Paper 4 (in the format of a brief communication): Selection and revision were performed after vii interviews, by means of medical records, which totaled 172 records (75.10% of the adolescents interviewed). A total of 26.4% adolescents reported suffering severe PV within the family context, but, in the review, no report or notice of maltreatment was found. Conclusion: results showed the severity of damages to the mental health of adolescents who are victims of severe PV in the family context and the importance of identification and intervention in such violence as a means to prevent mental health problems. Results also show the relevance of investing in the promotion of resilience as a means to protect against PV within the family context.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a disease with increasing incidence, which requires an adequate and costly management. Repeated hospitalisations due to decompensated CHF contribute to disease progression and herald dismal prognosis. An important goal of heart failure clinics is reduction in number of hospitalizations due to decompensated CHF. The main approaches to reach this aim seem to be effective diagnostics and treatment of CHF, and importantly, education of patients and their families. We aimed to evaluate knowledge of CHF patients regarding self-care in secondary prevention of CHF. We constructed three hypotheses and three research questions to reach the goal of the project. The theoretical part described recommended life-style interventions, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic CHF management, and specifically, the role of nurses in education of patients with CHF. The practical part described the methods of analysis, the study group and the process of evaluation. To fulfil the study goal, we performed collection of data using qualitative and quantitative methods of research. The qualitative part of the research project included a non-standardized questionnaire for patients with CHF. A total of 260 questionnaires were distributed in six heart failure clinics. 183 completed questionnaires were returned and analysed. The obtained data were evaluated using descriptive statistical methods. Pearson´s chi-test and Student´s t-test were applied to test the hypotheses. Collection of qualitative data was performed using the technique of a semi-structured interview based on pre-prepared questions. The study respondents included general nurses from out-patient heart failure clinics. Six of nine contacted nurse respondents agreed to participate. Answers were recorded on Dictaphone. Data were analysed using the method of "card display". The quantitative part tested the following hypotheses: 1. CHF patients know symptoms and signs of decompensated CHF. 2. CHF patients follow the life-style recommendations. 3. CHF patients perform daily self-monitoring of their weight, blood pressure and pulse. Our study revealed insufficient knowledge of patients regarding symptoms of possible CHF decompensation. This finding was alarming because suboptimal knowledge of symptoms of decompensated CHF may cause inadequate response of the patient and may delay initiation of treatment. Assessment of compliance with life-style measures revealed that most patients did not use tobacco products and had a limited alcohol consumption. Most individuals reported a regular use of heart failure medication and knew the timing of the next follow-up in their heart failure clinic. Life-style measures included also some dietary restrictions modified by the current nutritional status. Respondents preferred recommended food over inappropriate foodstuffs, however, they did not follow neither the salt restriction nor the optimal frequency of meals. Most respondents did not report a regular exercise A significant ignorance was found in the process of self-monitoring. Most respondents did not monitor their body weight, blood pressure and pulse. The qualitative assessment evaluated the following questions: 1. Do we educate the CHF patients appropriately? 2. Are we able as nurses to pass correct information to CHF patients? 3. How is the process of education implemented in practice? Based on the above mentioned methods, we found that the process of education is a domain of doctors. Nurses have only a limited role in education of CHF patients...

O câncer de cólon e reto configura-se como a terceira causa mais comum de câncer no mundo, em ambos os sexos, e a segunda causa em países desenvolvidos. Estudar a qualidade de vida (QV) é fundamental para a presença de intervenções que promovam bem-estar e/ou o estar bem destes pacientes, cujo prognóstico nem sempre é o melhor. Esta dissertação tem como norte a seguinte questão: como é a qualidade de vida do paciente com câncer colorretal em quimioterapia ambulatorial? Trata-se de um estudo transversal com abordagem quantitativa descritiva, no qual buscou-se avaliar a qualidade de vida do paciente com câncer colorretal em quimioterapia ambulatorial. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em uma Unidade de Quimioterapia Ambulatorial em um hospital do sul do Brasil, cujos pacientes eram portadores do diagnóstico de câncer colorretal e foram submetidos ao tratamento com o Protocolo 5FU. A amostra contou com 48 participantes que estavam em tratamento quimioterápico por um período de 6 meses. Utilizou-se como instrumento de levantamento de dados um questionário já validado e traduzido para o português, o WHOQOL-Bref. Nos resultados encontrados, prevaleceu a idade de 50 anos ou mais, todos os participantes estavam com estadiamento Dukes B e possuíam no mínimo um mês e no máximo 11 meses de tratamento. Os domínios do WHOQOL-Bref afetados mais significativamente foram os domínios II e III (psicológico e relações sociais), respectivamente, havendo diferença nas respostas quanto à QV geral naqueles que estavam no 1º ciclo de tratamento daqueles que já se encontravam no último ciclo (6º). A qualidade de vida é resultado da combinação de fatores subjetivos e de fatores objetivos, precisando suprir às necessidades humanas integrais, em seus aspectos físicos, psicológicos, sociais e espirituais. / Cancer of the colon and rectum appears as the third most common cancer worldwide in both sexes, and the second leading cause in developed countries. Studying the quality of life (QOL) is fundamental for the existence of interventions that promote wellness and/or well-being of these patients, whose prognosis is not always the best. This thesis is guided by the following question: how is the quality of life of patients with colorectal cancer in outpatient chemotherapy? It was a cross-sectional study with a descriptive quantitative approach, which aimed at assessing the quality of life of patients with colorectal cancer in outpatient chemotherapy. The research was conducted in an Outpatient Chemotherapy Unit at a hospital in Southern Brazil, whose patients were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and were treated with 5-FU protocol. The sample had 48 participants who were undergoing chemotherapy for a period of six months. It was used as an instrument of data collection a questionnaire, which has already been validated and translated into Portuguese, the WHOQOL-Bref. In the results found, prevailed the age of 50 years or more, all participants were in Dukes stage B, with at least a month and a maximum of 11 months of treatment. / El cáncer de colon y recto se configura como la tercera causa más frecuente de cáncer en el mundo, en ambos los sexos, y la segunda en los países desarrollados. Estudiar la calidad de vida (CV) es fundamental para la presencia de intervenciones que promueven bienestar y/o el estar bien de los pacientes cuyo pronóstico no siempre sea el mejor. Esta tesina se propone a la siguiente cuestión central: ¿cómo se presenta la calidad de vida de los pacientes con cáncer colorrectal sometidos a quimioterapia ambulatoria? Se trata de un estudio transversal con un abordaje cuantitativo descriptivo en el que se ha buscado evaluar la calidad de vida de pacientes con cáncer colorrectal sometidos a quimioterapia ambulatoria. Se ha desarrollado esta investigación en una Unidad de Quimioterapia Ambulatoria de un hospital ubicado al sur de Brasil, cuyos pacientes eran portadores de diagnóstico de cáncer colorrectal y fueran sometidos al tratamiento con el Protocolo 5-FU. La muestra dispuso de 48 pacientes en tratamiento quimioterápico por un periodo de 6 meses. Se ha utilizado como instrumento de recolección de datos un cuestionario validado y traducido al portugués, el WHOQOL-Bref. En los resultados obtenidos ha prevalecido la franja de edad de 50 años o más, todos los participantes se encontraban en el estadio Dukes B y poseían como mínimo un mes y como máximo 11 meses de tratamiento. The domains of the WHOQOLBref affected more significantly were the domains II and III (psychological and social relations), respectively, with significant differences in responses regarding overall QOL in those who were in the first cycle of treatment from those already in the last cycle (6th). Quality of life is the result of a combination of subjective and objective factors, needing help meeting human needs in full, in terms of physical, psychological, social and spiritual.