Quality of life for patients with breast cancer: An assessment study

Ahmed Al Baz, Aya; Mohamed Marouf, Dina; Goma Ahmed, Neamatallah

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2020.274798

Quality of life for patients with breast cancer: An assessment study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Nurse Specialist at Biala Technical Secondary School of Nursing

² Lecturer of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University

³ Ass, Professor of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University

10.21608/ejhc.2020.274798

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues
of the breast. Breast cancer affects the daily lives of many patients and families confronted by
changes in health status, lifestyle and roles, leading to impaired quality of life. The aim of the study
to assess quality of life (QOL) of patients with breast cancer through four dimensions of quality of
life physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning. Research design is an exploratory
descriptive design. Subject: A purposive sample composed of 100 adult female patients with breast
cancer. Setting: The study was conducted in Ain Shams University Hospitals ,Breast cancer clinic.
Tools: structure Interviewing Questionnaire, Europian Organization For Research and Treatment of
Cancer QLQ-C30 Instrument(EORTC QLQ-C30) and ( EORTC QLQ - BR23). The study results:
The mean age of patients was 52 ±7.1 years. There was statistically significant relation between
EROTC QLQ C-30 total global health of life of studied patients and age, residence, previous job
(before illness) and smoking. There was statistically significant relation between EROTC QLQ C-
30 functional scales of life of studied patients and age, marital status, type of housing and smoking.
There was statistically significant relation between EROTC QLQ C-30 symptom scales of life of
studied patients and age, type of housing and smoking. There was statistically significant relation
between EROTC QLQ-BR23 symptom scales of life of studied patients and age. Conclusion: there
was a moderate quality of life between all studied patients for all dimensions measured for quality
of life. This study recommended that: Improving patients quality of life should be the main
objective for nurses during their care of patients with breast cancer. Using specific instrument for
evaluating quality of life for patients at disease terminal stages.

Keywords