{
  "abstract": "Polypharmacy is common among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy due to the need for multiple supportive medications. This study assessed the prevalence of non-oncological polypharmacy and its association with quality of life (QoL) among adult cancer patients in Yemen. A cross-sectional study was conducted between 1st December 2025 and 23rd February 2026 at the National Oncology Centre in Sana’a, Yemen. Adult patients (≥18 years) receiving chemotherapy were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and medical record review. Polypharmacy was defined as the use of ≥5 non-oncological medications and excessive polypharmacy as ≥10 medications. QoL was assessed using the Arabic version of the EORTC QLQ-C30. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, independent-sample t-tests, and multiple linear regression using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27. Among 234 participants, 63.2% were female and 47.6% were aged 31–50 years. Polypharmacy was highly prevalent: 94.9% used ≥5 non-oncological medications and 56.4% ≥ 10. Mean global QoL was 47.9 (SD 26.7). Patients reported substantial financial difficulties (mean 82.3), fatigue (61.1), and pain (59.6). QoL did not differ significantly between excessive polypharmacy groups (mean difference −3.35; 95% CI −10.58 to 3.87; p = 0.361). In multivariable analyses, female gender independently predicted lower QoL (B = −10.13; 95% CI: −18.19 to −2.07; p = 0.014) and higher non-oncological medication use (B = 1.18; 95% CI: 0.25 to 2.10; p = 0.013). Age ≥ 51 years and illiteracy showed borderline associations with lower QoL, while all other variables, including excessive polypharmacy (≥10 non-oncological medications), were not significantly associated with QoL. Non-oncological Polypharmacy is highly prevalent among Yemeni cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Although medication burden was substantial, it was not independently associated with QoL, whereas female gender predicted poorer outcomes.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Medical Science and Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Sana’a, Yemen"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sayida Al-Jamei"
    },
    {
      "name": "Haneen Al-ansi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Malak Albiel"
    },
    {
      "name": "Enas Al-Awadhi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shaima Jihad"
    },
    {
      "name": "Amal Noman"
    },
    {
      "name": "Fadwa Alhayani"
    },
    {
      "name": "Rehab Alarhabi"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5h0m4qe0nmrby.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pgph.0006281",
  "fulltext_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0006281",
  "id": "5h0m4qe0nmrby",
  "issns": [
    "2767-3375"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0006281",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2717|Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient Outcomes"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Clinical medicine/Clinical oncology/Cancer chemotherapy"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Diagnostic medicine/Cancer detection and diagnosis"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Gastroenterology and hepatology/Gastrointestinal cancers"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Health care/Quality of life"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancer detection and diagnosis"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancer treatment"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancer treatment/Cancer chemotherapy"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancers and neoplasms"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Clinical oncology/Cancer chemotherapy"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pharmaceutics/Drug therapy/Chemotherapy/Cancer chemotherapy"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Public and occupational health/Global health"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214587156",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0006281&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-28",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5h0m4qe0nmrby.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:37Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pgph.0006281",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0006281"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:oncology",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Polypharmacy and quality of life in Yemeni cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A cross-sectional study",
  "title_text": "Polypharmacy and quality of life in Yemeni cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A cross-sectional study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:37Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5h0m4qe0nmrby",
  "venue": "PLOS Global Public Health",
  "versions": []
}