Health-Promoting Lifestyle and its Predictors in Women Under the Chemotherapy for Reproductive System Cancers

Abstract

Objectives: Gynecologic cancers are common in women. One of the most important challenging risk factors for many cancers is lifestyle, which can affect health. This study was therefore conducted to determine the status of health-promoting lifestyle and its predictors in women under the chemotherapy for reproductive system cancers. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 on 151 patients. They were undergoing chemotherapy for gynecologic cancers in oncology wards of Alzahra and Shahid Ghazi hospitals in Tabriz, Iran. The participants were selected through convenience sampling method. The sociodemographic questionnaire and health-promoting lifestyle profile II (HPLP-II) were completed. The data were analyzed using the independent t test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multivariate linear regression. Results: Mean (standard deviation, SD) total score of women's health-promoting lifestyle was 2.30 (0.38) in the score range 1-4. The highest mean (SD) score pertained to nutrition subscale (2.50 +/- 0.49), and the lowest mean (SD) score pertained to physical activity subscale (2.10 +/- 0.50). The predictors of lifestyle included age, income level, number of pregnancies, marital problems, number of children, and family history of gynecologic cancers. Conclusions: The data analysis showed that the mean score of the health-promoting lifestyle was average. It appears necessary to use health education and promotion programs emphasizing the health-promoting behaviors and their determinants.