No abstract

Improvement of family income, nutritional status and improvement of working environment might have an impact on the improvement of the quality of life of breast cancer patients during the phases of treatment.

During the last decade, survival rates for breast cancer have increased as a result of earlier detection and increased use of adjuvant therapy. Limited data exist on the post mastectomy quality of life in the process of transition from health to cancer in its different phases of treatment. The aim of current study was to evaluate the changes of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after mastectomy and to measure their impression about future perspectives in Bangladeshi Breasts cancer patients. A group of 250 women with a diagnosis of primary breast cancer who was admitted in the department of surgical oncology in National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital, Dhaka were enrolled in this study from January 2012 to March 2013. Two-point interview like pre(M1) and post mastectomy(M2) was taken using the structured questionnaire made by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-EORTC Q30 and BR23. The mean age of the patients was 44.7±9.87 years, 52.6% were locally advanced. HRQoL scores of breast cancer patients deteriorated after mastectomy, general features like presence of fatigability, nausea, apatite loss, sleeplessness and pain has got tremendous effect on the quality of life(p<.005). Financial difficulties and sleep disorders did not affect much. Four of the Global Health status/QOL parameters like physical functioning, role functioning, emotional functioning, cognitive functioning deteriorated but only physical functioning status affected significantly(p<0.005). Breast symptoms like body image problem, general breast symptoms like pain, arm swelling and sexual feeling affected their (HRQOL) after mastectomy. A diagnosis of cancer and associated treatments affects multiple domains of life. The complicated transitions between health, illness and living with cancer can often be challenged with a preoperative information for the patient confronted with breast cancer should include possible psychological effects of cancer diagnosis, surgery, and other treatment. Breast conservation particularly in the young group may give a better outcome in the treatment protocol of breast cancer patients.

Objectives This study aimed to understand the values held by elementary school children in constructing food choices and the strategies they used to influence their mothers’ food purchasing decisions. Methods Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 40 elementary school children (aged 6–11 years) and their mothers living in South Carolina. Food choice information was collected only from children and strategies to influence mothers’ food purchases were collected from both children and mothers. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and open-coded. Coding matrices were used to compare children's and mothers’ responses on the children's strategies to influence mothers’ food purchasing decisions. Results Children most valued taste, texture, and flavor of the food items, followed by perceived benefits, happiness, craving, following family and friends, the items’ healthfulness, preparation, and presentation when they made food choice decisions. Children reported 157 strategies that they used to influence mothers’ purchasing decisions. Mothers had concordance with 80 strategies that children mentioned. In mother-child dyads, more concordance was observed between mothers and sons than between mothers and daughters. The most common and successful strategies from both the children's and mothers’ perspectives were reasoned requests, repeated polite requests, and referencing friends. Other strategies included offers to contribute money or service, teaming up with siblings, writing a shopping list, and grabbing desired items. Mothers perceived that children had a lot of influence on their food purchasing decisions. Conclusions Children were aware of the strategies that would get positive reactions from their mothers. Mothers’ acknowledgement of children's influence on their food purchase decisions suggests that children can serve as change agents for improving mothers’ food purchases if children prefer healthy foods. Interventions are needed for mothers to help address children's strategies to influence mothers to purchase unhealthy foods and make healthy foods more appealing to children instead of yielding to children's requests for unhealthy items. Funding Sources SPARC grant and Ogoussan Doctoral Research Award from the University of South Carolina.

Purpose: To examine whether deviation from fidelity in the implementation of an evidence-based program on safer sex education affected youth satisfaction and intention to avoid risky sexual behaviors. Design: Implementation evaluation. Setting: In-school and out-of-school settings in South Carolina. Participants: Three thousand seventy-three youths aged 10 to 14 years. Intervention: Making Proud Choices. Measures: Fidelity variables were implementation setting, program length, class size, gender composition, and curriculum adaptations. Outcome variables were youth program satisfaction and intentions to remain abstinent or avoid risky sexual behaviors postintervention. Analysis: Chi-square and t tests tested in-school and out-of-school comparisons. Multiple linear regression examined predictors of youth program satisfaction and intention to avoid risky behaviors. Results: Program duration ( B = .002), class size ( B = .074), program completion rate ( B = .004), gender ( B = .223), and race ( B = .263) predicted program satisfaction ( P < .05; R2 = 0.094). Longer program duration was negatively associated with planned abstinence ( B = −.002), contraception use ( B = −.004), and condom use ( B = −.002). Participants in single-gender classes ( B = .387) and females ( B = .256) were more likely to practice safer sex. Low R2 showed limited impact on intention to practice safer sex ( R2 = .030 and.015) and remaining abstinent ( R2 = .033). Conclusion: Although fidelity deviations do impact youth satisfaction and intentions, the impact is not large. Implementations adapted to fit local settings can still be beneficial.