J Breast Cancer.  2010 Jun;13(2):212-218. 10.4048/jbc.2010.13.2.212.

Relationships of Lymphedema, the Shoulder Range of Motion, Fatigue and Social Support to the Health Related Quality of Life in Patients with Breast Cancer

• Lee EH
• Moon S
• Song Y
• Chun M

• KMID: 2286548
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2010.13.2.212

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the variables that are associated with the health related quality of life (HRQOL) for patients with breast cancer.
METHODS
A total of 112 subjects were recruited from a cancer center at a university hospital by using convenience sampling. The subjects were asked to complete questionnaires about HRQOL, fatigue and social support (family and medical team support). A trained research assistant then measured the subjects' shoulder range of motion (ROM) and the arm parameters for lymphedema. The data was analyzed using t-tests, Mann-Whitney tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and hierarchical multiple regression analysis.
RESULTS
The HRQOL was strongly correlated with fatigue (r=-0.80, p<0.01). It was also positively correlated with family support (r=0.57, p<0.01) and medical team support (r=0.33, p<0.01). The HRQOL was significantly lower for the patients who had limited shoulder rotation. Fatigue and family support together explained 65% of the variance in the HRQOL for the patients with breast cancer, after controlling for education and income. Of them, fatigue uniquely explained 32% of the variance in the HRQOL.
CONCLUSION
Fatigue was the strong predictor of the HRQOL. This result suggests that fatigue might be primary managed for improving the HRQOL of patients with breast cancer.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Fatigue; Quality of life

MeSH Terms

Arm
Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Fatigue
Humans
Lymphedema
Quality of Life
Range of Motion, Articular
Shoulder
Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

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  Figure 1 Frequency and percentage of lymphedema.

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  Figure 2 Frequency and percentage of limited shoulder range of motion (ROM).

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  Figure 3 Normal P-P plot of regression standardized residual. The normal P-P plot shows normal distribution of residuals.

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  Figure 4 Homoscedasticity plot. This plot shows homoscedasticity of residuals.

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