Abstract
Background : To improve the quality of life (QOL) of breast cancer patients is animportant issue for nursing staff. Therefore, understandingthe associated factors with QOL is a crucial knowledge fordeveloping nursing intervention.Objective : To examine the associated factors with QOL and the effectedfactors on the QOL of breast cancer patients.Design : A cross-sectional descriptive design.Patients : One hundred and fifty female patients with breast cancer receivingchemotherapy.Material and Method : The participants were asked to respond to a set of sevenquestionnaires: The Personal Data Form, Piper Fatigue Scale,Pain Scale, Depression Scale, Insomnia Scale, Social SupportQuestionnaire, and Quality of Life Index.Results : The mean scores of the QOL (x̄ = 66.43; SD = 13.94) was at amoderate level. All independent variables including fatigue, pain,depression and sleep disturbance were significantly negativelycorrelated with QOL accept social support that had a significantlypositive associated with QOL. Significant factors effected onthe QOL were depression, fatigue and the stage of cancer(β = -.56; -.31; and -.15, respectively; P < .01). Three variablesaccounted for 71% of the variance (P < .01).Conclusions : The findings indicate that the Symptom Management Model is auseful guideline for explaining the QOL of breast cancer patientsundergoing chemotherapy. When designing effective nursinginterventions, nurses should emphasize ways of helping breastcancer patients to manage or control the severity of depressionand fatigue symptoms.
Publisher
Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
First Page
719
Last Page
729
Recommended Citation
Thanasilp, S and Wongpromchai, M.
(2012)
"Factors associated with quality of life of breastcancer patients,"
Chulalongkorn Medical Journal: Vol. 56:
Iss.
6, Article 8.
Available at:
https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/clmjournal/vol56/iss6/8