Abstract
Background: This study aimed to assess the quality of life (QOL), social support and coping strategies, and illness adjustment among breast cancer patients in general and on type of breast surgery.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Ali-Ebne-Abitaleb and Khatam-Al-Anbia hospitals in Zahedan, Iran, 2020. We recruited patients with breast cancer who underwent lumpectomy(n=44), mastectomy(n=64), and not any surgery (n=15) by census method. Data collection tools were the breast cancer-specific module (QLQ-BR 23), The adjustment to illness measurement inventory for Iranian women with breast cancer (AIMI- IBC), and the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) questionnaires. We performed statistical analysis by ANOVA, independent sample t-test, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U-test, and multiple linear regression analysis to adjust for covariates.Results: We recruited a total of 120 patients with breast cancer in this survey. 53.3% of patients underwent a mastectomy, 34.2% lumpectomy, and 12.5% of patients had not been surgery. Patients in the functioning scale reported high scores for body image (mean=78.61, SD=26.69) and future perspective (mean=55.27, SD=26.71). Patients on the symptom scale had a high score upset by hair loss (mean= 49.16, SD=38.88). Generally, patients received a high social support level, especially from family members, and used a positive coping strategy to have high illness adjustment more than a negative coping strategy. Also, patients who underwent lumpectomy had a better sexual life and body image and more illness adjustment than the other two groups of patients.Conclusion: Early detection of the disease, support for patients, and educational programs to use appropriate coping strategies can improve breast cancer women's quality of life and disease adaptation.
Sense of coherence and coping strategies: How they influence quality of life in Iranian women with breast cancer
