Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Patients Attending Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Cancer Treatment Center

Figures & data

Table 1 Sociodemographic Characteristics of Study Population

Sociodemographic Variables	Frequency N=259	Percent
Age
<50	189	73
≥50	70	23
Sex
Female	250	96.5
Male	9	3.5
Marital status
Single	6	2.3
Married	194	74.9
Separated	7	2.7
Divorced	28	10.8
Widowed	24	9.3
Education
No formal education	135	52.1
Elementary	31	12
Secondary	27	10.4
Tertiary	66	25.5
Employment before disease
Housewife	131	50.6
Daily worker	7	2.7
Merchant	25	9.6
Employed	96	37.1
Employment after disease
Actively employed	218	84.2
Homemaker/retired	41	15.8
Monthly income
<1500ETB (<$37.5)	133	51.4
1500–4500ETB ($37.5- $112.5)	65	25.1
>4500ETB (>$112.5)	61	23.6
Residence
Rural	115	44.4
Suburban	52	20.1
Urban	92	35.5

Table 2 Frequency of Obstetric Variables of Study Population

Obstetric Variables	Frequency	Percent
Gravidity
0	11	4.4
1–3	105	42
4–7	99	39.6
>7	35	14
Parity
0	13	5.2
<3	124	49.6
4–7	92	36.8
>7	21	8.4
Abortion
No	218	84.2
≤2	30	15
≤3	2	0.8
Any obstetric surgery
Yes	72	27.8
No	187	72.2

Table 3 Presence of Chronic Diseases Among Study Population

Chronic Disease	Frequency	Percent
Diabetic
Present	11	4.2
Absent	248	95.8
Hypertension
Present	45	17.4
Absent	214	82.6
Asthma
Present	5	1.9
Absent	254	98.1

Table 4 Clinical Characteristics of Study Population

Clinical Characteristics	Frequency	Percent
Delays before diagnosis
<6 months	154	56
6–24 months	96	37.1
>24 months	18	6.9
Delays before treatment
<6 months	237	91.5
6–24 months	21	8.1
>24 months	1	0.4
Stages at diagnosis
Stage 0	1	0.4
Stage I	7	2.7
Stage II	45	17.4
Stage III	104	40.2
Stage IV	102	39.4
Type of breast surgery done (192)
Breast conserving surgery	60	31.3
Mastectomy	126	65.6
Breast reconstructive surgery	6	3.1
Radiotherapy done (259)
Yes	53	20.5
No	206	79.5
Chemotherapy
Yes	231	89.2
No	28	10.8
Chemotherapy started (231)
Before surgery	64	27.7
After surgery	167	72.3
Previous history of breast cancer
Present	9	3.5
Absent	250	96.5
Duration of recurrence (9)
<5 years	3	33.3
5–10 years	4	44.4
>10 years	2	22.2

Table 5 Reasons for Delay Before Diagnosis of Study Population

Reasons for Delay Before Diagnosis	Frequency	Percent
Painless symptoms
Yes	189	73
No	70	27
Seeking cultural treatment
Yes	96	37.1
No	163	62.9
Seeking religious treatment
Yes	66	25.5
No	193	74.5
Lack of money
Yes	102	39.4
No	157	60.6
Do not know where to go
Yes	20	7.7
No	239	92.3
Other reasons
Yes	2	0.8
No	257	99.2

Table 6 Mean and Median Score of WHOQOL-BREF Cancer Breast Cancer-Specific-BR23 Questionnaires Among Study Population

Variables (N=259)	Min	Max	Mean	SD	P-value
Rate your quality of life	1	5	12.23	4.29	<0.00
Are you satisfied with your health	1	5	12.43	3.98	<0.00
Does pain prevent you from doing things	1	5	10.19	3.92	<0.00
Do you need any medical treatment	1	5	8.93	3.68	<0.00
Do you enjoy life	1	5	11.20	4.19	<0.00
Do you feel life is meaningful for you	1	5	12.77	4.06	<0.00
Are you able to concentrate	1	5	12.31	3.75	<0.00
Do you feel safe in daily life	1	5	12.11	3.72	<0.00
Is physical environment safe for you	1	5	11.71	3.67	<0.00
Do you have enough energy	1	5	11.63	3.97	<0.00
Do you accept your body appearance	1	5	8.74	4.26	<0.00
Do you have enough money	1	5	9.56	4.22	<0.00
Do you find available information	1	5	10.01	4.05	<0.00
Do you have time for leisure activities	1	5	9.10	3.50	<0.00
Are you able to get around	1	5	11.88	4.40	<0.00
Are you satisfied with sleep	1	5	12.74	4.12	<0.00
Are you satisfied with your ability to perform your daily living activities	1	5	12.20	3.80	<0.00
Are you satisfied with ability to performance	1	5	10.93	3.72	<0.00
Are you satisfied with your personality	1	5	11.54	3.66	<0.00
Are you satisfied with your personal relationship	1	5	13.67	3.44	<0.00
Are you satisfied with your sex life	1	5	8.05	4.14	<0.00
Are you satisfied with the support you get	1	5	14.98	2.70	<0.00
Are you satisfied with living place	1	5	14.78	2.74	<0.00
Are you satisfied with your access to health service	1	5	16.05	3.08	<0.00
Are you satisfied with your transport access	1	5	10.01	3.90	<0.00
Have you negative feelings	1	5	11.64	4.25	<0.00
Physical health domain	28	124	88.26	21.61	<0.00
Psychological domain	24	108	68.2	19.07	<0.00
Social domain	12	60	36.69	7.62	<0.00
Environmental domain	52	140	93.31	19.76	<0.00
Mean Global health quality of life	35	116	75.34	17.07	<0.00

Notes: Copyright ©2004 WHO. Adapted from WHO. The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF. Geneva: WHO; 2004:1–5.¹⁷

WHO. The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF. Geneva: WHO; 2004:1–5.

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