本研究目的主要探討食道癌患者個人屬性、治療情況及症狀困擾與生活品質之關係，採橫斷面調查法，以中部某醫學中心食道癌門診及住院病患，於2004年5月至2005年3月共計130位個案參與。研究工具為歐洲癌症治療與研究組織生活品質問卷量表臺灣中文版(EORTCQLQ-C30)，症狀困擾及社會支持量表，信效度經由專家效度及內在一致性信度測試。結果發現:(1)食道癌患者之個人屬性不同婚姻狀況在自覺整體健康/生活品質方面呈現顯著差異；不同職業者其生理功能方面亦有顯著差異。(2)接受空腸造?術者其自覺整體健康/生活品質及功能指標之生理、角色功能均較未接受空腸造?術者為差。(3)症狀困擾及徵狀尺度與自覺整體健康/生活品質呈現負相關。(4)症狀困擾是預測食道癌病患生活品質之重要變項，可解釋總變異量70.6%。本研究結果將有助於護理人員瞭解症狀困擾，方可及時提供適切的照癌患者照護重點之一，建議護理人員可於護理過程時評估病患之症狀困擾，方可及時提供適切的照護。護理教育方面亦可加強腫瘤護理症狀困擾評估與生活品質相關教學，協助病患生活品質之改善。

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate individual characteristics, treatment conditions, social support, symptom distress, and other factors related to quality of life among 130 esophageal cancer patients. The study was conducted between May 2004 and March 2005. the EORTCQLQ C-30 Questionnaire, Symptom Distresses Questionnaire, Social Support Questionnaire, and patients’ demographics were used to collect data. Expert content validity and Cronbch’s alpha reliability were reported in the context. The results showed that:(1) There were significant differences among different marital status in their global health status； and there were significant differences among different job status in their physical function； (2) The participants who had not undergone jejunostomy had better global health status/ quality of life, physical function, and role function than the participants who had undergone jejunostomy； (3) There was a negative relationship between symptom distresses and global health status/quality of life； and (4) Symptom distresses accunted for 70.6% of the variance in qualify of life. The results of this study may help to impress upon nurses the fact that influencing factors constitute one of the key points to be taken into account in the care of esophageal cancer patients. We would suggest that these findings be applied in the nursing process, with an emphasis on nurses’ evaluation of symptom distresses and the provision of care on the basis of such evaluation. In order to improve patients’ quality of life, cancer nursing education should be strengthened, with renewed emphasis on quality of life.