Examining the quality of life of patients living with breast cancer in Southern Sri Lanka: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Globally breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women and Sri Lanka is not an exception. Cancer influences the quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients. The survival rates and the QoL of BC patients have improved significantly over the last few decades. However, factors associated with the QoL of patients with BC have not been well studied in Sri Lanka. The aim of the study was to assess the QoL and its correlates among patients with BC treated at a tertiary care hospital in Southern Sri Lanka. Methods: Ninety-seven BC patients were investigated using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The World Health Organization- Quality of Life- Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to measure QoL. The WHOQOL-BREF measure QoL in four domains: physical, psychological, social, and environmental. Scores range from 0 to 100, and higher scores indicate a greater QoL. Results: The mean age of the sample subjects was 52 years (SD = 8.7), and the majority were married (78%). Physical (60.97±11.56), psychological (63.52±11.63), and environmental (69.05 ±8.79) domains of QoL were at a satisfactory level whereas QoL score related to social relationships was found to be low (47.86±13.89) in this sample. Physical QoL was higher in young participants and psychological QoL was higher among those with a fewer number of comorbidities and disabilities and those with no body image changes. Social QoL was higher among married and environmental QoL was higher among those who reported having no disabilities. Conclusion: Social support in the form of family support and emotional support seems to play a major role in lowering the QoL of BC patients. Psycho-social support services should target patients experiencing physical disabilities, a higher number of comorbidities, and those who were subjected to changes in their body image.

Assessment of quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients attending oncology unit of aTeaching Hospital in Bangladesh

“…Younger women experience more psychological morbidity and lower QoL after breast cancer diagnosis than older women, as older patients are believed to have greater social and emotional functioning, which has been associated with better QoL, while younger patients have poor adjustment, intolerable treatment, less coping, and significant distress. 14 In the present study, female patients had the lowest mean social function score among the five function scales, indicating poor social support for women in the family and society. Studies from Saudi Arabia and Malaysia revealed that social support from family and society improved the general QoL for female breast cancer patients.…”

“…However, in women, functional scores in the advancing age group improved compared to the 18–39‐year age group, indicating that women cope better than men as age advances. Younger women experience more psychological morbidity and lower QoL after breast cancer diagnosis than older women, as older patients are believed to have greater social and emotional functioning, which has been associated with better QoL, while younger patients have poor adjustment, intolerable treatment, less coping, and significant distress 14 . In the present study, female patients had the lowest mean social function score among the five function scales, indicating poor social support for women in the family and society.…”

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of a Sinhalese version of the <em>Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)</em> in patients with cancer

“…Data on SS and the impact of SS on patients with cancer are scarce in the Sri Lankan setting. According to the previous publication by us, cancer patients had obtained higher family support (21) and family support was one of the significant predictors of QoL among patients with cancer (21,22). According to the findings of patients with cancer in the Sri Lankan context, some had reported a high prevalence of psychological distress (21) and clinical depression (23) which could be reduced by providing SS.…”

“…According to the previous publication by us, cancer patients had obtained higher family support (21) and family support was one of the significant predictors of QoL among patients with cancer (21,22). According to the findings of patients with cancer in the Sri Lankan context, some had reported a high prevalence of psychological distress (21) and clinical depression (23) which could be reduced by providing SS. A few studies had reported SS on different clinical and non-clinical samples (e.g., patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), elders, etc.)…”

“…The higher scores represented a higher level of self-perceived QoL. The scale WHOQoL-BREF Sinhala version has been validated in the Sri Lankan setting (21)(22)(23). This study is mainly comprised of two phases.…”