Comparing the quality of life of women suffering from breast cancer receiving palliative care and ordinary care

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer and leading cause of women’s mortality due to malignancy. Treatment increases the survival however it is associated with poor quality of life and bringing the patients toward palliative care. Objectives: This study was conducted to compare the quality of life in patients with breast cancer receiving palliative care and ordinary care. Patients and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was carried out in Tehran hospitals (February to August 2017). The sample consisted of 220 breast cancer women who had completed the therapy four weeks prior to the study. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), its supplementary breast cancer questionnaire (QLQ-BR23) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were applied to assess the quality of life of patients who received palliative care (n=110) and ordinary care (n=110). Descriptive and inferential statistics (t test and Mann-Whitney U test) were applied to analyze the data through SPSS 21. Results: The palliative care group demonstrated higher quality of life compared to the ordinary care group. Scores in functioning and global health were higher in the palliative care group than the ordinary care group. The palliative care group also had higher scores in sexual functioning, body image, future perspective, physical activity and lower scores in symptom scales, arm symptoms and hair loss than the ordinary care group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Palliative care provides more desired quality of life than ordinary care in breast cancer women and can be effective to improve the quality of life in these patients.