Relationships of lymphedema, the shoulder range of motion, fatigue and social support to the health related quality of life in patients with breast cancer.

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.