Abstract

MARIN KELSO, Claudia Lorena et al. Quality of life in patients on breast cancer treatment, Pereira, Colombia 2010. Investig. andina [online]. 2013, vol.15, n.27, pp.811-823. ISSN 0124-8146.

Introduction: breast cancer diagnosis and treatment are stressing occurrences that generate psychopathological difficulties in patients and a detriment in their quality of life. Methods: a cross-sectional study was performed in 58 women ages 35 to 65 who were diagnosed with breast cancer. The women received treatment at "Oncologos de Occidente S.A" in Pereira. The information was gathered using a survey that asked about: physical and psychological health, social relations and sexual behavior. Data was tabulated using "Microsoft Excel 2007" and analyzed with "SPSS version 17.0." Frequency distributions, univariate and bivariate analysis for demographic variables were performed; hypothesis testing was done over the mean score obtained in the tests. The questionnaire was validated through a pilot test and the analysis of its internal reliability when including or not the question about sexual activity (Chrombach's alpha= 0.703 and 0.77 respectively). Results: most of the women reported their quality of life as "good" (T = 24.9 and statistical significance <0.0001). Scores varied depending on the sexual behavior, 20.06 % of sexually active women revealed a "very good" life's quality, 52.9 % reported as "good" and 23.5 % as "regular" whereas the sexually inactive women population statistical analysis revealed life's quality as "very good" for a 29.2 %, "good" for the 54.2 % and "regular" for a 12.5 %. The most deteriorated aspect was "physical activity" reported in a 41.4% as "light activity". Conclusion: quality of life for active and inactive sexual life patients of the institution "Oncologos de Occidente S.A" was reported as "good".

Keywords : Life Quality; Breast Cancer; Self-Esteem.

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