Vojnosanitetski pregled 2015 Volume 72, Issue 2, Pages: 148-154
https://doi.org/10.2298/VSP1502148N
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Cited by
Social participation of women with breast cancer
Nikolić Snežana (Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Belgrade)
Ilić-Stošović Danijela (Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Belgrade)
Kolarević Ivan (Office for Youth, Palilula, Belgrade)
Đurđević Ana (Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade)
Ilić Snežana (Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Belgrade)
Đuričić Milica (Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Belgrade)
Background/Aim. The general problems of persons with malignant diseases
(stages of asthenia, chronic fatigue and exhaustion, followed by depression
and anxiety) lead to a decrease in functional abilities and a declining
quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the level of
difficulty, the type of required assistance and the level of satisfaction
that derives from maintaining life habits. The study also examined the
correlation between the level of accomplishment of life habits and the level
of satisfaction with how they are maintained. Methods. The research was
conducted at the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade and in the “Get
Together” Association of Women with Breast Cancer from June to September 2012
on a sample of 30 women. A standardised questionnaire, Assessment of Life
Habits - LIFE-H v.3.0, was administered. Results. The lowest level of
maintaining normal activities was related to education, housing and
recreation. The greatest need for support to maintain normal activities was
in the domains of housing, interpersonal relationships and employment. The
greatest satisfaction in the accomplishment of normal activities was observed
in the domains of mobility, nutrition and housing, and the lowest level of
satisfaction was in the domains of recreation, communication and
interpersonal relationships. The correlation between the level of
accomplishment of normal activities and the level of satisfaction was the
highest in the domains of general physical activity, responsibility and life
in a community; the lowest level was in the domains of personal hygiene,
housing, mobility, employment and recreation (p < 0.001). Conclusion. The
results indicate that research participants found it more difficult to
maintain their social activities than their everyday activities. This clearly
indicates the necessity to develop and implement special advisory and
educational programs aimed at preventing social exclusion and to strengthen
and support personal resources in the area of the social roles of women with
breast cancer.
Keywords: breast neoplasms, women, quality of life, questionnaires