ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: We examined the association between the adherence to dietary guidelines for breast cancer survivors and health-related quality of life in a cross-sectional study of Korean breast cancer survivors. METHODS: A total of 157 women aged 21 to 79 years who had been diagnosed with stage I to III breast cancers according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and had breast cancer surgery at least 6 months before the baseline were included. We used a Korean version of the Core 30 (C30) and Breast cancer 23 (BR23) module of the European Organization for Research and Treatment Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ), both of which have been validated for Koreans. Participants were asked about their adherence to dietary guidelines for breast cancer survivors, suggested by the Korean breast cancer society, using a 5-point Likert scale. We summed dietary guideline adherence scores for each participant and calculated the least squares means of health-related quality of life according to dietary guideline adherence scores using the generalized linear model. RESULTS: Breast cancer survivors who had higher adherence to dietary guidelines for breast cancer survivors had lower constipation scores than those with lower adherence (p for trend=0.01). When we stratified by the stage at diagnosis, this association was limited to those who had been diagnosed with stage II or III breast cancers. Also, sexual functioning scores increased significantly with increasing adherence scores of dietary guidelines among those with stage II or III breast cancers (p for trend < 0.001). However, among those who had been diagnosed with stage I, higher scores of dietary guidelines were associated with higher scores of pain (p for trend=0.03) and breast symptoms (p for trend=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that the health-related quality of life levels of breast cancer survivors are associated with the adherence to dietary guidelines and may differ by the stage of the breast cancer.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Breast , Breast Neoplasms , Constipation , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diagnosis , Joints , Least-Squares Analysis , Linear Models , Nutrition Policy , Quality of Life , Surveys and Questionnaires , SurvivorsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify degrees of pain, menopause symptoms, and quality of life, and to identify factors influencing quality of life of patients with breast cancer who were on hormone therapy. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was utilized. Data were collected using questionnaires from 110 patients with breast cancer who had been on hormone therapy for 3 months or more and were being treated at a university hospital in Seoul. Data were analyzed using chi2-test, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Mean age of the participants was 53.56 (SD=6.67) and 54 (51.4%) had stage 0 or I at the time of diagnosis. Most of the participants reported having pain and menopause symptoms (88.2% and 95.5% respectively). The mean score for quality of life was 87.84+/-21.17. Pain, menopause symptoms and quality of life had strong correlations with each other (p<.005). Quality of life was explained by menopause symptoms (beta= -.71), economic status (beta=.20) and occupation (beta=.16). CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that menopause symptoms should be incorporated into oncologic nursing care to improve quality of life of patients with breast cancer on hormone therapy.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/therapeutic use , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Cross-Sectional Studies , Hospitals, University , Hot Flashes , Pain Management , Postmenopause , Quality of Life , Surveys and Questionnaires , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate dietary intake among female breast cancer survivors in a cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 127 women who had breast cancer surgery at least 6 months before baseline were included. Dietary intake of female breast cancer survivors was assessed through self-reported 3 day-dietary records. To compare dietary intake between breast cancer survivors and general female population without cancer, we selected the 1:4 age matched women from the 2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). In the KNHANES, participants were asked about their dietary intake using the 24-hour dietary recalls. We also examined whether dietary intake varied by age group, cancer stage, or time since surgery among breast cancer survivors. We used the generalized linear model to compare their dietary intakes. RESULTS: Intakes of total energy, beta-carotene, folate, vitamin C, plant iron and fruits were lower among breast cancer survivors with longer time since surgery compared to those with shorter time (p < 0.05). Breast cancer patients with higher stage at diagnosis tended to consume less legumes (p = 0.01) than those with lower stage. When we compared dietary intake between breast cancer survivors and the general female population without cancer, breast cancer survivors were more likely to consume most of macro- and micro-nutrients in larger quantity (p < 0.05) and adhere to healthier diet characterized by higher intakes of legumes, seed and nuts, vegetables and fishes and shells than the general female population who never had been diagnosed with cancer (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study results suggested that the intakes of nutrients and foods varied by time since surgery and cancer stage among breast cancer survivors and dietary intakes among breast cancer survivors differed from that in the general population. Further prospective studies are warranted to explore the association between dietary intakes of specific food items and survival among Korean breast cancer survivors.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Ascorbic Acid , beta Carotene , Breast Neoplasms , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diagnosis , Diet , Fabaceae , Fishes , Folic Acid , Fruit , Iron , Linear Models , Nutrition Surveys , Nuts , Plants , Survivors , VegetablesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate of a knowledge scale for lymphedema in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: 34 preliminary items were made according to literature review, then verified content validity, construct validity, and reliability of the scale. 28 items among them were confirmed through content analysis by 4 experts. After a preliminary test, a survey for 156 breast cancer patients was performed for confirming construct validity and reliability. The data were analyzed using factor analysis, independent t-test, and KR-20. RESULTS: This scale had 28 items consisting of 2 categories: prevention and self-care of lymphedema. Construct validity was confirmed by known-group technique because there were some categories consisted of just one or two items, and some mismatches between categories and items in factor analysis. Women who were educated about lymphedema scored significantly higher than women who had not (t=-3.92, p<.001). Reliability was appropriate (KR-20=.81). A percentage of correct answers was 74.6%, but it was from 31.8% to 96.1%. CONCLUSION: The study shows that this scale is reliable and valid to measure the knowledge of lymphedema. This scale can be effective to assess and educate the patients with breast cancer.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Breast , Breast Neoplasms , Lymphedema , Nursing Methodology Research , Reproducibility of Results , Self CareABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The study was aimed to investigate the levels of marital intimacy and quality of life (QOL) among women with breast cancer. METHODS: As a descriptive study, a total of 67 married women with breast cancer was recruited via convenient sampling from a breast clinic in an university hospital. A structured, self-reported questionnaire was administered to the participants. RESULTS: The most participants were housewives in their 40s and 50s, and were in high socioeconomic status. Two thirds of women perceived the marital intimacy with their spouse were increased after the diagnosis of breast cancer. Women's marital intimacy significantly differed by their levels of education. The level of cognitive intimacy was the highest among the subscales, whereas, sexual intimacy was the lowest. The family factor of QOL showed the highest score, and there were differences in QOL by employment status and cancer stage. The QOL and marital intimacy were not correlated significantly. CONCLUSION: Further research on the couples with breast cancer and intervention for increasing their marital intimacy are needed in the future.