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Hwang and Yi: Factors Influencing Quality of Life in Patients with Breast Cancer on Hormone Therapy
Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2014; 44(1): 108-117.

Published online: 28 February 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2014.44.1.108

Factors Influencing Quality of Life in Patients with Breast Cancer on Hormone Therapy

Eunkyung Hwang1, Myungsun Yi2

1Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

2College of Nursing, Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Yi, Myungsun. College of Nursing, Seoul National University, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-799, Korea. Tel: +82-2-740-8829, Fax: +82-2-765-4103, donam@snu.ac.kr

Received 30 August 2013       Revised 27 September 2013       Accepted 2 February 2014

© 2014 Korean Society of Nursing Science

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NoDerivs License. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/) If the original work is properly cited and retained without any modification or reproduction, it can be used and re-distributed in any format and medium.

Abstract

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 χ2-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 (β= -.71), economic status (β=.20) and occupation (β=.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.

Keywords: Breast neoplasms, Hormornal antineoplastic agents, Quality of life, Pain, Menopause

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Sociodemographic and Illness-related Characteristics (N=110)
jkan-44-108-i001

*Missing value excluded.

Table 2
Levels of Menopause Symptoms, Pain and Quality of Life (N=110)
jkan-44-108-i002
Table 3
Quality of Life according to Sociodemographic and Illness-related Characteristics (N=110)
jkan-44-108-i003

*Missing value excluded.

Table 4
Correlations between Pain, Menopause Symptoms, and Quality of Life (N=110)
jkan-44-108-i004

*p<.005.

Table 5
Variables Influencing Quality of Life (N=103)
jkan-44-108-i005

SE=Standard errors.

*Unstandardized coefficients.

Notes

This manuscript is based on a part of the first author's master's thesis from Seoul National University.

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