Factors Predictive of Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Patients

Daldoul, Amira; Khechine, Wieme; Bhiri, Hanene; Ammar, Nouha; Bouriga, Rym; Krir, Moahamed Wassim; Soltani, Said; Zoukar, Olfa; Rhim, Mohamed Salah; Bouslah, Sarra; Dimassi, Sabrine; Abbess, Ibtissem; Saidani, Zahra; Zaied, Sonia

doi:10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.6.1671

Factors Predictive of Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Patients

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Medical Oncology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital of Monastir, Tunisia.

² Department of Medical Oncology, Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse, Tunisia.

³ Department of Psychiatry, Principal Military Hospital of Instruction, Tunis, Tunisia.

⁴ Department of Radiotherapy, Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse, Tunisia.

⁵ Department of Gynecology, El Omrane University Hospital of Monastir, Tunisia.

⁶ Department of Child Psychiatry, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital of Monastir, Tunisia.

10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.6.1671

Abstract

Background: Due to progress in medical care, the number of survivors from cancer has increased significantly
during recent years and this raises the question of the quality of life (QoL), especially of the many women treated
for a breast cancer. This paper focuses on correlations of QoL with anxiety and depression on the one hand and with
socio demographic, anatomo-clinical and therapeutic parameters on the other. Methods: In this cross-sectional study,
seventy patients were enrolled and filled in two auto-questionnaires, both in validated Arabic versions: The SF-36 for
assessment of QoL and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD-S) for evaluation of anxiety and depression.
The statistical approaches used to determine predictive factors were bivariate correlations to determine relationships
between quantitative variables, and T-tests and one-way Anova to analyze links between qualitative and quantitative
variables. Results: The QoL of patients was altered with an SF-36 mean total score of 54.0 ± 22.7, and the alteration
affects the different aspects. The mean scores for anxiety and depression in patients were 6.91 ± 4.72 and 6.24 ± 3.88,
respectively. The results of this study suggested an association between the QoL and chemotherapy (p= 0.014) and its
adverse effects (p=0.01), as well as anxiety (p= 0.0001) and depressive symptoms (p= 0.0001). Socio-demographic
factors, the stage of the cancer, and surgery, radiotherapy or hormone therapy did not appear to have significant
effects. Conclusion: The management of breast cancer patients needs a collaborative approach between oncologists,
gynecologists, psychologist and psychiatrists.

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