| Learning Objective #1: Describe the multidimensional concept of Quality of Life | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Compare and contrast how women diagnosed at younger, middle-aged and older age view their quality of life |
Objective: To describe the effect of age at diagnosis on physical, psychological, social, and spiritual domains of QOL Design: Descriptive Survey Population: Breast Cancer Survivors Sample: 958 Breast Cancer survivors, 28% diagnosed at age 49 or younger; 37.6% diagnosed between ages of 50 and 65; 28% diagnosed at age 66 or older 73% were white and 26% were African-American; Survivor years range from 1 to 23 years. Setting: Twenty-nine county area of Rural Eastern North Carolina Variables: QOL and Age at Diagnosis Methods: Breast Cancer survivors were identified through local Tumor Registry. Trained female interviewers conducted phone interviews using Ferrell et.al.'s QOL-BC instrument. Findings: Women diagnosed at a younger age reported significantly lower scores on physical quality of life and psychological QOL. In social QOL, younger women reported more interference with personal relationship, negative effects on employment, activities at home, a financial burden and that cancer diagnosis was distressing to family. However, the younger women were more likely to feel in control of their life, satisfied with life in general and that life had returned to normal. Conclusions: Age at diagnosis has a significant effect on survivors of breast cancer. Women diagnosed at a younger age had more difficulties with physical, social and psychological domains of QOL. Implications: Nurses need to maintain contact through phone or at clinic visits to screen for physical symptoms, psychological and social concerns and to intervene appropriately. Nurses could provide for anxiety reducing interventions and other psychological support mechanisms for these younger women.
Back to Cancer Care
Back to 14th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
10-12 July 2003