pISSN 1738-6756   eISSN 2092-9900
Open Access, Peer-reviewed
    J Breast Cancer. 2010 Jun;13(2):212-218. Korean.
    Published online Jun 29, 2010.
    https://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2010.13.2.212
    Copyright © 2010 Korean Breast Cancer Society
    Original Article

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

    Eun-Hyun Lee, Seongmi Moon,1 Yeongsuk Song,2 and Mison Chun3
      • Graduate School of Public Health, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea.
      • 1Department of Nursing, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea.
      • 2Kyungpook National University College of Nursing, Daegu, Korea.
      • 3Department of Radiation Oncology, Ajou University College of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
    • Corresponding author (Email: smoon@ulsan.ac.kr )
    Received September 23, 2009; Accepted January 11, 2010.

    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.

    Keywords
    Breast neoplasms; Fatigue; Quality of life

    Figures

    Figure 1
    Frequency and percentage of lymphedema.

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

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

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

    Tables

    Table 1
    Characteristics of subjects (n=112)

    Table 2
    Descriptive statistics of HRQOL, fatigue, and social support

    Table 3
    Difference of HRQOL by lymphedema and shoulder range of motion

    Table 4
    Factors predicting HRQOL after controlling education and monthly income

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    MeSH Terms
    Arm
    Breast
    Breast Neoplasms
    Fatigue
    Humans
    Lymphedema
    Quality of Life
    Range of Motion, Articular
    Shoulder
    Surveys and Questionnaires
    Metrics
    Share
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    Tables
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