scholarly journals Satisfaction with the Aesthetic Effect and Quality of Life for Women after Breast Conserving Therapy (BCT)—Preliminary Research

Author(s):  
Agata Krzos ◽  
Andrzej Stanisławek ◽  
Marian Jędrych ◽  
Marta Łuczyk ◽  
Barbara Ślusarska

All methods of breast cancer treatment may potentially lead to breast deformities, which are often associated with the reduced mental well-being of patients. Breast conserving therapy (BCT) is commonly used, and its core element is breast conserving surgery (BCS).The aim of this study was to determine the level of satisfaction with the aesthetic outcome of surgery and quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer patients undergoing BCT in a longitudinal study performed three months, six months and 12 months after surgery. This longitudinal observational study was carried out on a group of 91 women. The Breast-QTM BCT 1.0 questionnaire was used in this study. Before surgery, patients assessed their satisfaction with the appearance of their breasts (SwB) at an average level of M = 56.0. Satisfaction with the aesthetic outcome (SwO) of BCS was highest among all patients three months after surgery (M = 63.0). The mean score in the sub-scale of psychosocial well-being (Psycho-soc W-B) before surgery was M = 62.0, while in the subsequent periods of the study, it was higher. The mean score for physical well-being (Physical W-B) before surgery was M = 69.92; and in the subsequent study periods, it was lower. The level of patient satisfaction with the outcome of the surgery and the QoL related to health do not differ significantly in post-operative observation. QoL in terms of psychosocial functioning in patients undergoing BCT is significantly higher 12 months after surgery compared to the pre-operative period. Patient satisfaction with the BCS aesthetic outcome is positively related to the evaluation of QoL in terms of psychosocial functioning.

Author(s):  
Ilona Stolpner ◽  
Jörg Heil ◽  
Fabian Riedel ◽  
Markus Wallwiener ◽  
Benedikt Schäfgen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Poor patient-reported satisfaction after breast-conserving therapy (BCT) has been associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and subsequent depression in retrospective analysis. This prospective cohort study aimed to assess the HRQOL of patients who have undergone BCT using the BREAST-Q, and to identify clinical risk factors for lower patient satisfaction. Methods Patients with primary breast cancer undergoing BCT were asked to complete the BREAST-Q preoperatively (T1) for baseline evaluation, then 3 to 4 weeks postoperatively (T2), and finally 1 year after surgery (T3). Clinicopathologic data were extracted from the patients’ charts. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine significant differences in mean satisfaction and well-being levels among the test intervals. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate risk factors for lower satisfaction. Results The study enrolled 250 patients. The lowest baseline BREAST-Q score was reported for “satisfaction with breast” (mean, 61 ± 19), but this increased postoperatively (mean, 66 ± 18) and was maintained at the 1 year follow-up evaluation (mean, 67 ± 21). “Physical well-being” decreased from T1 (mean, 82 ± 17) to T2 (mean, 28 ± 13) and did not recover much by T3 (mean, 33 ± 13), being the lowest BREAST-Q score postoperatively and in the 1-year follow-up evaluation. In multiple regression, baseline psychosocial well-being, body mass index (BMI), and type of incision were risk factors for lower “satisfaction with breasts.” Conclusion Both the aesthetic/surgery-related and psychological aspects are equally important with regard to “satisfaction with breasts” after BCT. The data could serve as the benchmark for future studies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 81s-81s
Author(s):  
S. Chillakunnel Hussain Rawther ◽  
M. Shivananda Pai ◽  
D. Fernandes ◽  
J. Chakrabarty ◽  
S. Mathew

Background: Continued advances in technology and cancer treatment have made cancer care more complex. A wide range of healthcare professionals are involved in the care and there is a potential for poor coordination and miscommunication. Hence there is a need to integrate and coordinate care to enhance quality care and improved health outcomes patient navigation approach was introduced by Dr Harold Freeman at Harlem Hospital Centre, the USA in 1990. Some literature identified nurses as a suitable candidate to assume this role. But there is a need to further explore the effectiveness of patient/nurse navigation program for its effectiveness on health outcomes such as anxiety, psychological distress, mood states, quality of life, symptom distress (nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbances) physical well being, psychological well being, coping, support and patient satisfaction. Aim: To synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of patient/nurse navigation program in the care of women with breast cancer. Methods: This review was conducted according to Cochrane guidelines. An extensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Proquest, Cochrane Library, IndMed (Indian database of studies) and Shodhganga, a reservoir of Indian theses from January 1990-January 2017 for relevant studies published in the English language. The search criteria were limited to randomized controlled trials with patient or nurse navigation interventions compared with routine/usual care interventions without patient/nurse navigator in women with diagnosis of breast cancer aged 18 years and above, at any stage of illness undergoing any treatment in a hospital setting, including inpatient and outpatient/ambulatory care and studies. Results: Out of 238 studies assessed for eligibility only 6 studies were assessed for methodological quality. Quality assessment was done by using Delphi checklist by two independent reviewers. The risks of bias in RCTs were assessed using Cochrane risk of bias tool. Due to the methodological heterogeneity of the studies, a meta-analysis was not performed. The reviewers categorized the main outcomes as quality of life, patient satisfaction with care, anxiety, psychological distress and physical problems and other outcomes (treatment adherence, barriers to care, diagnostic interval, timely access to care, time to completion of treatment, use of health care resources) and presented it in narrative form. Conclusion: This review provides evidence that navigation programs have some benefit on breast cancer patients' health outcomes. The findings from this review show that there are a limited number of studies reporting health outcomes of breast cancer patients from inpatient settings and especially no studies from Asian countries. This warrants the need for developing navigation programs in developing countries especially in Indian setting where no navigation programs are being reported in cancer care.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 154-154
Author(s):  
Francisco A. Conde ◽  
Andrea R. Wilburn

154 Background: Aim of this study was to compare quality of life (QOL), treatment-related side effects, and needs of recent and long-term breast cancer survivors following breast-conserving therapy. Methods: Surveys were sent to 750 women with Tis, T1 – T4 breast tumors without lymph node involvement who received lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy at a large, tertiary care facility in Hawai‘i from January 2001 to December 2010. To assure adequate representation across years, 75 women were randomly selected from each year. Surveys included demographic items, City of Hope Quality of Life – Breast Cancer Instrument, and Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Symptom Scales. Completed surveys were received from 265 (35.3%) women, and findings were analyzed for long-term survivors (diagnosed from 2001-2003, n=76), mid-range survivors (diagnosed from 2004-2007, n=95), and recent survivors (diagnosed from 2008-2010, n=94). Results: Overall, respondents reported high QOL. Similarly to recent breast cancer survivors, long-term survivors reported slight to moderate side effects, including hot flashes, vaginal problems, musculoskeletal pain, and cognitive dysfunction. After controlling for age, ethnicity, and cancer stage, there was no significant differences in QOL physical, psychological, and social well-being subscale scores across time periods. Long-term survivors were more likely than shorter-term survivors to want information regarding nutrition (p<.01), physical activity (p=.018), and ways to restore strength, mobility, and cognition (p<.01). Conclusions: Breast cancer survivors treated with breast conserving therapy report relatively good QOL between 2 and 12 years post-treatment, although they continued to experience physiological issues (which could be exacerbated by age), and anxieties about their cancer. Healthcare professionals should continually assess for ongoing cancer-related side effects even years after completing treatment. Funding: This research was supported by ‘Imi Hale Native Hawaian Cancer Network (U54 CA153459).


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 1495-1506
Author(s):  
Brent Burbridge ◽  
Hyun Lim ◽  
Lynn Dwernychuk ◽  
Ha Le ◽  
Tehmina Asif ◽  
...  

Introduction: Venous access is a crucial element in chemotherapy delivery. It remains unclear whether cancer patients prefer a port to a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC). Our study aimed to assess cancer patients’ satisfaction with their venous access device and to compare the quality of life (QoL) of subjects with a PICC to those with a port. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, EORTC QLQ-C30, and a locally developed quality of life survey (QLAVD), designed to assess satisfaction with venous access devices, were administered to breast or colorectal cancer patients over a one-year period following the device insertion. Mixed effects models were used to assess changes on mean scores at different time points. Results: A total of 101 patients were recruited over a three-year period, (PICC group, n = 50; port group, n = 51). Survey response rates for months one and three were 72% and 48%, respectively. Overall, no significant differences were noted between the two groups in relation to EORTC QOL. At three months, the mean pain scores were 3.5 ± 2.3 for the port and 1.3 ± 0.75 for PICC (<0.001). The mean score for a negative effect of the venous access device on psychosocial well-being was 6.0 ± 4.1 for PICC and 3.0 ± 2.7 for the port (p = 0.005). Complications related to PICCs occurred in 38% patients versus 41% with a port (p > 0.24). Conclusions: Although subjects with a port experienced more pain during the device insertion or access for chemotherapy, it had a smaller negative impact on psychosocial scores than the PICC. No significant differences in complications rates were observed between the two devices.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahareh Honari ◽  
Seyed Mehran Homam ◽  
Maryam Nabipour ◽  
Zahra Mostafavian ◽  
Arezou Farajpour ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders with physical, emotional, and social consequences. Previous studies indicate that epilepsy symptoms can highly affect the epileptic patients’ satisfaction in life. The aim of the present study is to investigate the QOL of People with Epilepsy (PWE) in Khorasan Razavi province, Iran. Methods In this study, 100 patients were randomly selected. After confirmation of the diagnosis of epilepsy by neurologists and fulfilling the entrance criteria, patients completed the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 inventory (QOLIE-31) questionnaire. Finally, data was analyzed statistically by SPSS software. Results The study sample comprised 100 PWE, aged 18–74 years (34 ± 13), of whom 58 (58%) were females. Tonic-colonic seizure was the most common (60%) type of seizure. The obtained score of each subscale and the range of the QOLIE-31 total score was 16.40–79.18 with the mean of 50 (SD = 16). The energy-fatigue subscale score was significantly higher in patients younger than 35 (p = 0.018). The data analysis showed that the seizure worry subscale was significantly higher in single patients (p = 0.04). Duration of epilepsy had a positive correlation with QOLIE-31 total score (p = 0.038), and a negative relationship with energy-fatigue subscale (p = 0.018). In contrast with previous studies, which reported the frequency of the epileptic episodes as the most important predictor of QOL, our results showed no significant correlation between the number of the episodes and overall QOL score (p = 0.063). However, the number of episodes was significantly correlated with emotional well-being and cognition subscales. Furthermore, the results indicated that poor QOL score is correlated with depressed mood. Conclusion In fact, the ultimate and preferred outcome of all treatments and care interventions is the patient’s QOL. Thus, improvement of the QOL by means of obtaining more information about its contributing factors, in PWE should be one of the main goals in the patients’ treatment.


2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-206
Author(s):  
Mosammat Shamsun Naher Begum ◽  
Wongchan Petpichetchian ◽  
Luppana Kitrungrote

Background: The present study was aimed to the relationships between symptom severity and distress and quality of life (QoL) of patients receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer.Objectives and methodology: A total number of 132 patients, attending both In-patient and Out-patient department and fulfilling the recruitment criteria were included in the study. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect data from the eligible participants by the primary investigator. The data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Results: On average, the participants of the study experienced seventeen symptoms with moderate level. The level of QoL of the participants was at moderate level (M=2.02, SD=0.39). Among all the subscales, the physical well-being had the lowest score and social well-being had highest score. Symptom experience and quality of life showed significant negative correlation. Conclusion: The patients with breast cancer would experience high symptoms during a 7-day period after receiving chemotherapy of the previous cycle. Nurses need to perform full measurement of multiple symptoms when care for breast cancer patients after the administration of chemotherapy.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.15(2) 2016 p.201-206


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 147
Author(s):  
Veeraraja B. Sathenahalli ◽  
G. R. Rajashekar Murthy ◽  
Netra Gouda ◽  
Sanjay K. Shivanna

Background: Thalassemia is an autosomal recessive congenital disease caused by the reduced or absent beta globin chain synthesis of hemoglobin tetramer. The degree of imbalance between alpha and non alpha globin chains determines the severity of clinical manifestations. The disabling nature of the disease and chronic therapy affects the normal life causing psychosocial burden. Overall patient’s life, such as education, free-time, physical activities, skills, capabilities, and family adjustment is affected. The effects of which often result in psychological, emotional and social compromise. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) measurement is a multidimensional concept that focuses on the impact of the disease and its treatment on the well being of an individual.Methods: A descriptive observational hospital based study was conducted over a period of 3 months. Transfusion dependency in thalassemic children aged between 5 years and 18 years was the inclusion criteria. Thalassemic children having debilitating illnesses unrelated to thalassemia were excluded. Quality of life was assessed using Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™ 4.0)4. The tool assesses the quality of life in five domains: physical functioning (PF: 8 items), psychosocial functioning (sum of emotional, social and school functioning), emotional functioning (EF: 5 items), social functioning (SF: 5 items) and school functioning (SC: 5 items).Results: Total of 125 children were enrolled with a mean age of 9.4±4.6 years (age range 5-18 yrs). According to the PedsQL questionnaire, the quality of life was similarly assessed by both parents and children. The total mean QoL score of the parents was 72.36±11.47 and of the children was 77.63±14.17. Emotional, school and psycho-social function were significantly affected according to both child and parents without statistical significance.Conclusions: Thalassaemia patients and their parents require lifelong psychological support for prevention of mental health issues. By increasing the awareness and knowledge levels of the parents, we can help sick children in developing countries to get the best care locally and to thus improve HRQoL.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Stanisz ◽  
Ewelina Kolak ◽  
Dorota Branecka-Woźniak ◽  
Renata Robaszkiewicz-Boukaz ◽  
Przemysław Ciepiela ◽  
...  

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women, and is usually treated surgically. Mastectomy has a great influence on the mental and physical condition of women. Breast reconstruction offers them a chance to improve their quality of life (QOL) and self-image.The main aim of the study was to gain knowledge about the impact of breast reconstruction on the QOL of women following mastectomy, and an analysis of the QOL after breast reconstruction, in the context of prosthesis effect assessment.Materials and methods: The study comprised 100 women following breast reconstructive surgery involved in 1 of the 7 “Amazon Clubs” (post-mastectomy women’s associations) in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, northwest Poland. The study was based on the author’s questionnaire, and a shortened standardized version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Statistical calculations were performed with StatSoft Statistica v10 software, adopting a significance level of p < 0.05.Results: The women who decided to have breast reconstruction surgery, noticed improved well-being (67%) and experiencedan increase in self-confidence (61%). The vast majority ofthe patients surveyed (93%) were satisfied with the effectof the prosthesis. Statistically significant differences in QOL were observed in the following spheres: rest and sleep, work capacity, negative feelings, and financial resources (p < 0.05) in relation to the evaluation of the prosthesis effect.Conclusions: 1. Breast reconstruction has a positive influence on improvements in well-being, increasing self-esteem, and the assessment of a more attractive appearance in women of all ages. 2. Breast reconstruction surgery has a positive impact on QOL and health in the physical, psychological, and environmental domains, especially in the women who are satisfied with the effects of the surgery. 3. A negative assessment of the breast reconstruction effect has an adverse influence on QOL. Identifying the factors affecting dissatisfaction with the post-operative outcome is crucial for a complete understanding of the subject, and for implementing measures aimed at improving the QOL of these women.Keywords: quality of life; mastectomy; breast cancer; breast reconstruction; breast surgery.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document