Factors Influencing Elevated Distress Scores at the End of Primary Treatment of Breast Cancer

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of distress and to investigate the related problems in breast cancer patients at the end of primary treatment. METHODS: A sample of 118 participants was recruited among outpatients who had successfully completed primary treatment of breast cancer. Data were collected between July, 2013 and October, 2014 using the Distress Thermometer (DT) scale and problem lists. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze data. RESULTS: Among the 118 patients that participated in this study, 34 patients (28.8%) suffered from elevated distress using the previously validated cut point > or =4 for the DT. Problems most frequently encountered were fatigue (68.8%), worry (59.3%), appearance (51.7%) and memory/concentration (48.3%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that depression (OR=9.55), worry (OR=8.34), fatigue (OR=8.19) and age (OR=1.14) were independent predictors for elevated distress scores. CONCLUSION: Utilizing the DT, onethird of breast cancer patients screened met criteria for distress at the end of the primary treatment. Breast cancer patients with depression, worry, fatigue and older age should be targeted for distress screening and management.