PURPOSE/ OBJECTIVES: To describe symptoms and quality of life (QOL) of patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant hormonal therapy and to examine possible relationships between the two measurements. DESIGN: Descriptive, correlational study. SETTING: An oncology clinic within a tertiary medical center in Israel. SAMPLE: Convenience sample of 132 patients diagnosed with primary breast cancer receiving hormonal therapy. METHODS: Data collection was conducted through the self-administered Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy endocrine subscale and a sociodemographic and medical information questionnaire. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: QOL and symptoms of hormonal therapy. FINDINGS: Ten symptoms were categorized by more than 20% of the participants as "very much" or "quite a bit." The mean QOL score for the participants was higher than that for a healthy population, although a correlation was found between fewer symptoms and higher QOL. Mood swings and irritability were the symptoms most strongly associated with a decrease in QOL. Patients who exercised had higher QOL scores. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant hormonal therapy did not affect the QOL of a majority of patients with primary breast cancer. A reduced number of symptoms indicated a higher QOL. Mood swings and irritability have a negative impact on QOL. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: A need exists to design a program to follow up on hormonal symptoms and the QOL of patients receiving hormonal therapy and to encourage patients to engage in regular exercise.
PURPOSE/ OBJECTIVES: To describe symptoms and quality of life (QOL) of patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant hormonal therapy and to examine possible relationships between the two measurements. DESIGN: Descriptive, correlational study. SETTING: An oncology clinic within a tertiary medical center in Israel. SAMPLE: Convenience sample of 132 patients diagnosed with primary breast cancer receiving hormonal therapy. METHODS: Data collection was conducted through the self-administered Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy endocrine subscale and a sociodemographic and medical information questionnaire. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: QOL and symptoms of hormonal therapy. FINDINGS: Ten symptoms were categorized by more than 20% of the participants as "very much" or "quite a bit." The mean QOL score for the participants was higher than that for a healthy population, although a correlation was found between fewer symptoms and higher QOL. Mood swings and irritability were the symptoms most strongly associated with a decrease in QOL. Patients who exercised had higher QOL scores. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant hormonal therapy did not affect the QOL of a majority of patients with primary breast cancer. A reduced number of symptoms indicated a higher QOL. Mood swings and irritability have a negative impact on QOL. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: A need exists to design a program to follow up on hormonal symptoms and the QOL of patients receiving hormonal therapy and to encourage patients to engage in regular exercise.
Authors: G J van Londen; E B Beckjord; M A Dew; K L Cooper; N E Davidson; D H Bovbjerg; H S Donovan; R C Thurston; J Q Morse; S Nutt; R Rechis Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2013-11-24 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: P Chalela; E Munoz; D Inupakutika; S Kaghyan; D Akopian; V Kaklamani; K Lathrop; A Ramirez Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Commun Date: 2018-10-17