Abstract

DOMINGUEZ GIL, María Rosario et al. Evaluation of the quality of life after the end of breast cancer primary treatment. Index Enferm [online]. 2009, vol.18, n.4, pp.246-248. ISSN 1699-5988.

Aims: To evaluate the Quality of Life (QoL) of patients submitted to breast cancer surgery, after the end of the primary treatment. Design: A descriptive transversal study. Participants: 71 patients, selected by a consecutive sampling. Instruments: Inventory of sociodemographic data, and the Spanish version of SF-36 questionnaire. Data Analysis: A descriptive analysis of every variable was made with the SPSS program, version 14.0. Also, to determine the impact of the types of surgery and treatment on the next QoL, ANOVA test was completed (p<.05). Results: Patients had a mean age of 52,86 years (DT=11,076), and 2,46 sons (DT=1,264). Also, a 56,3%. were married, the 69,1% were housekeepers, and had elementary studies the 48,6%. A 70,4% of patients had been submitted to mastectomy jointly lymphadenectomy, and the 42,3% had received chemotherapy associate with radiotherapy. The poorer health areas were the emotional rol, and vitality. The type of surgery was related to bodily pain (F= 3,546) and social functioning (F= 2,806), whereas the type of treatment was associated with the physical rol (F= 2,254). Conclusions: The primary treatment of breast cancer keeps incapacitating patients, around six to nine months after having finished it. Pain, and the secondary effects of treatment difficult patients to continue developing their activities normally. On the other hand, patients' new reality affects their health areas of emotional rol and vitality.

Keywords : Quality of Care; Quality of Life; Breast Cancer; Oncologic Nursing.