Supportive Care Needs in Females with Breast Cancer under Remedy of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy and its Predictors Complexes, 2017

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. The high prevalence of breast cancer in middle-aged women with family and occupational responsibilities have affected the quality of life of Iranian women and their families. One of the approaches to assessing quality of life is measuring needs. One of the major needs of cancer patients in Iran is understanding the disease prognosis and survival rates. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between quality of life with supportive care needs and perceived illness in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 190 women with breast cancer who referred to oncology centers of Arak for chemotherapy or radiotherapy with a convenience sampling method. Research instruments included demographic and disease characteristics questionnaire, Quality of Life-Cancer 30, Quality of Life-Breast Cancer 23, Perceived Illness Questionnaire, and The Supportive Care Needs Survey (Short Form 34) questionnaire which was self-fulfilling and, if not literate, completed by the researcher through the interview. Data were analyzed using spss21 software. One way ANOVA, Independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate linear regression were used. Results: The mean (standard deviation: SD) of cancer quality of life was 57.1(25.8) The mean (SD) of the symptom domain of breast cancer quality of life was 43.3 (17.9) and its functional domain’s mean (SD) was 44.3 (21.7); ranging from 0 to 100. There was significant difference in cancer quality of life between chemotherapy and radiotherapy groups (p <0.05) but there was not significant difference in breast cancer quality of life between two groups (p >0.05). The mean (SD) of perceived illness was 38.9 (13.1); ranging from 0-80. There was no significant difference in illness perception between two groups (p >0.05).

The mean (SD) of supportive care needs was 100.2 (31.9); ranging from 34-170. There was no significant difference in supportive care needs between two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings of the study, meeting the needs of supportive care and contributing to the proper understanding of the disease and the therapeutic potential of cancer are among the variables that are involved in improving the quality of life of women with breast cancer.