No abstract

Breast cancer is recognized as one of the most common cancers in women. The prevalence rate of breast cancer in Taiwan is 53/100,000 in 2007. Although the survival rate for the breast cancer was enhanced in recent years, the consequences of the illness, including its impact on the quality of life are in need of attention and treatment. The purpose of the study is to investigate factors related to the quality of life for persons with breast cancer from longitudinal view. The model of the study includes predictors from categories of illness related, psychosocial, contextual and activity participation. The outcome variables are 26 items of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Taiwan version (WHOQOL-BREFTW). The study was approved by the IRB board. One hundred subjects diagnosed as breast cancer were recruited to participate in the study. They were from an outpatient treatment center in a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. Seventy-six subjects were followed up after three months. The mean age of the subjects was 49.6 (SD=8.6); 77% of them were married; 55% of them had college degree; the average onset duration was 254.7 days (SD=337.7). Seventy percent of the subjects were receiving chemotherapy; 30% of the subjects were receiving targeted therapy. Sixty percent of the subjects were diagnosed as 2nd stage cancer. The study was longitudinal in nature. The average follow up duration was 104 days (SD=15.9 days). The independent variables of the model included: disease stage; number of comorbidity; medication side effect; sense of mastery; sense of competence; level of depression and anxiety; social support; satisfaction with daily occupation; time spent in certain activity and role perofrmance etc. The linear mixed effect model was used to analyze the dataset which offers benefits to overcome missing data, repeated measurement and small sample size. The results of the study showed that overall QOL was predicted by the number of comorbidity, satisfaction with daily occupations, time spent at leisure activity, time at rest and number of roles. Overall health was predicted by side effects, level of depression, level of social support and time spent at leisure activity. Satisfaction with daily occupations was the most important factor to predict QOL, followed by sense of competence, level of depression, level of anxiety, and educational level. “The meaningfulness of life” was predicted only by social support; “Enjoying life” was predicted by educational level, stage of cancer and time spent at leisure activity. “The satisfaction with sex life” was predicted only by “social support”. The results support the importance of participation in daily occupation as a way to improve the QOL of persons with breast cancer. Furthermore, levels of depression, level of anxiety as well as sense of competence are significant factors to be addressed. Finally, social support provides essential buffering effect on the aspect of QOL. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4442. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4442