Hariri School of Nursing, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon.
Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2012 Dec;16(5):491-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2011.11.003. Epub 2012 Jan 17.
High incidence rates of breast cancer (BC) emphasize the need to address health-related quality of life (QoL) in this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the QoL, symptom prevalence and management, functional ability, and quality of care in Lebanese women with BC at a tertiary health care facility.
Cross-sectional descriptive survey targeting Lebanese adults with cancer and using a combination of four instruments: European Organization for Research and treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale; Barthel Index; Needs at End of life Screening Tool, and a demographic/clinical characteristics section. 89 breast cancer patients participated in the study; data was collected from 2009 to 2010. Descriptive analysis in addition to independent sample t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson r correlation were used for data analysis.
The most prevalent symptoms were feeling nervous, feeling sad, lack of energy, and pain; symptom management was inadequate; high scores were reported on functional ability, medical care, spirituality, and relationships. Younger, single, and better educated participants who were diagnosed for less than 30 months, had no metastasis, and paid less than $450 dollars per month on medical expenses showed better global health status/QoL. Payments per month for medical expenses, presence of metastasis, time since diagnosis, and type of treatment received were significantly associated with QoL, the different functioning dimensions, and symptoms.
Strategies addressing symptom management in particular psychological symptoms need to be developed and implemented in addition to a holistic multidisciplinary palliative care approach.
乳腺癌（BC）的高发病率强调了在该人群中需要解决与健康相关的生活质量（QoL）问题。本研究的目的是评估在一家三级医疗机构中，黎巴嫩 BC 女性的生活质量、症状发生率和管理、功能能力以及护理质量。
本研究采用了一种结合了欧洲癌症研究与治疗组织生活质量问卷、纪念症状评估量表、巴氏指数、生命终末期需求筛查工具以及人口统计学/临床特征部分的四项工具的横断面描述性调查，针对患有癌症的黎巴嫩成年人。2009 年至 2010 年期间，89 名乳腺癌患者参与了这项研究。除了独立样本 t 检验、方差分析和 Pearson r 相关性分析外，还进行了描述性分析。
最常见的症状是紧张、悲伤、缺乏活力和疼痛；症状管理不足；功能能力、医疗护理、精神和人际关系方面的评分较高。年轻、单身、教育程度较高、诊断时间不到 30 个月、没有转移且每月医疗费用支出低于 450 美元的患者，其总体健康状况/生活质量较好。每月医疗费用支出、转移存在、诊断时间和所接受的治疗类型与生活质量、不同功能维度和症状显著相关。
除了综合多学科姑息治疗方法外，还需要制定和实施专门针对症状管理特别是心理症状管理的策略。
