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Quality of Life Research
Published in: Quality of Life Research 8/2014

01-10-2014 | Brief Communication

Patient education, upper-limb symptom perception, and quality of life among Japanese breast cancer survivors

Author: Miyako Tsuchiya

Published in: Quality of Life Research | Issue 8/2014

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Abstract

Purpose

To examine the effects of perceptions of information received about upper-limb morbidity (ULM) and perceptions of upper-limb symptoms (ULS) on quality of life (QoL) among Japanese breast cancer (BC) survivors.

Methods

A total of 166 Japanese BC survivors with postoperative ULS participated in a cross-sectional study. Participants were divided into three groups by time since breast surgery (short-term, middle-term, and long-term). Survivors’ perceptions of the information, their perceptions of ULS, and QoL were assessed using questionnaires, including the WHO QoL-BREF Japanese version. Factors associated with QoL were analyzed by multiple regression stepwise analyses.

Results

In the short-term group, perceptions of insufficient information about managing ULM were associated with poor physical (P = 0.002), psychological (P = 0.003), and environmental health (P = 0.015). Positive perceptions of ULS were associated with good physical (P = 0.011), psychological (P = 0.024), and social health (P = 0.028). Symptom disclosure was associated with poor physical (P = 0.036) and psychological health (P = 0.041) in the long-term group. No significant association was found between QoL and perceptions of information or symptoms in the middle-term group.

Conclusions

Facilitating positive perceptions of information and ULS may improve QoL, especially in short-term survivors. Healthcare providers should develop patient education programs that take the perceptions of BC survivors into account.
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Metadata
Title
Patient education, upper-limb symptom perception, and quality of life among Japanese breast cancer survivors
Author
Miyako Tsuchiya
Publication date
01-10-2014
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Quality of Life Research / Issue 8/2014
Print ISSN: 0962-9343
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2649
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-014-0680-1

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