Predictors of Quality of Life in Patients with Breast Cancer

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women and is responsible for physical and sociomental problems. Evaluation of life quality is considered as an important issue in studying chronic diseases, especially cancer. Cancer affects the life quality of the patients in different degrees. Therefore, the effect of disease on life quality of these patients is an important consequence. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the predictors of quality of life in patients with breasts cancer. METHODS: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 on 166 female under treatment for breast cancer who referred to Ghazi, Alzahra, Valiasr, and Shams hospitals in Tabriz city, Iran. Samples were selected through convenience method. Sociodemographic and quality of life questionnaires-Cancer 30 in breast cancer patients were completed through interview. Data analysis was performed using Pearson's correlation, independent t, analysis of variance, and linear multivariate regression tests. RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation of total quality of life score was 59.1 ± 17.4 from the achievable range of 0 to 100. The highest mean score was obtained for cognitive performance subscale (74.9 ± 23.8), and the lowest mean score was achieved for emotional performance subscale (51.4 ± 21.1). According to the results obtained from the linear multivariate regression, variables of time of disease diagnosis, lifestyle, caregiver person, caregiver health status, and matrimonial satisfaction were among the predictors of total quality of life score. CONCLUSION: The results showed that quality of life in patients under treatment for breast cancer was moderate; therefore, special attention must be paid by caregivers to improve the quality of life in these patients considering its sociodemographic predictors.