Scholarlink

Purpose <p>While survival rates among breast cancer patients continue to improve, many women in India experience persistent physical, emotional, and social challenges during treatment. This study aimed to compare the quality of life (QOL) between reproductive-age women (≤ 49 years; youngest participant aged 35 years in the study sample) and older women (≥ 50 years) undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, and to identify factors associated with QOL in both groups to inform age-sensitive and supportive care practices.</p> Methods <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Bhubaneswar, India, involving 85 breast cancer patients who had completed at least three cycles of chemotherapy. QOL was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Association between independent variables and QOL were determined using an independent T-test and ANOVA. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with overall QOL.</p> Results <p>The overall QOL score among participants was 60.8 ± 16.3. Age remained significantly associated with overall QOL after adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Reproductive-age women reported higher overall QOL (70 ± 10) compared to older women (47 ± 07). In the physical domain, younger women had the highest scores (83 ± 08), whereas older women had the lowest (24 ± 21). Poor overall QOL was significantly associated with older age (β = -28.174, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), rural residence (β = -35.69 for environment domain), and advanced cancer stage (β = -38.62 for physical domain).</p> Conclusion <p>Breast cancer affects QOL differently across age groups. Reproductive-age women demonstrated better physical health and stronger social support, while older women faced greater physical and psychological burden. These findings highlight the need for age-specific interventions, improved access to supportive services, and further longitudinal and mixed-methods research to enhance patient-centered oncology care.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Comparative assessment of quality of life in reproductive-age and older women with breast cancer using WHOQOL-BREF

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月20日

查看全文
  • Subhadra Priyadarshini,
  • Kunja Bihari Panda,
  • Sobhna Pradhan

摘要

Purpose

While survival rates among breast cancer patients continue to improve, many women in India experience persistent physical, emotional, and social challenges during treatment. This study aimed to compare the quality of life (QOL) between reproductive-age women (≤ 49 years; youngest participant aged 35 years in the study sample) and older women (≥ 50 years) undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, and to identify factors associated with QOL in both groups to inform age-sensitive and supportive care practices.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Bhubaneswar, India, involving 85 breast cancer patients who had completed at least three cycles of chemotherapy. QOL was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Association between independent variables and QOL were determined using an independent T-test and ANOVA. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with overall QOL.

Results

The overall QOL score among participants was 60.8 ± 16.3. Age remained significantly associated with overall QOL after adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Reproductive-age women reported higher overall QOL (70 ± 10) compared to older women (47 ± 07). In the physical domain, younger women had the highest scores (83 ± 08), whereas older women had the lowest (24 ± 21). Poor overall QOL was significantly associated with older age (β = -28.174, p < 0.001), rural residence (β = -35.69 for environment domain), and advanced cancer stage (β = -38.62 for physical domain).

Conclusion

Breast cancer affects QOL differently across age groups. Reproductive-age women demonstrated better physical health and stronger social support, while older women faced greater physical and psychological burden. These findings highlight the need for age-specific interventions, improved access to supportive services, and further longitudinal and mixed-methods research to enhance patient-centered oncology care.