Model Development of Illness Perception and Consequences in Breast Cancer Patients

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Psychology
• Health Sciences

Background:

• Breast cancer is a leading global malignancy affecting women.
• Illness perception (IP) and quality of life (QoL) are critical in breast cancer management.
• Understanding factors influencing IP and QoL is essential for effective patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate predictors of illness perception (IP) and their impact on quality of life (QoL) in breast cancer patients.
• To examine the influence of life satisfaction, social support, self-esteem, hope, optimism, and spiritual well-being on IP and QoL.
• To analyze the direct and indirect effects of these predictors on patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 200 female breast cancer volunteers.
• Data collection via questionnaires.
• Statistical analysis using path analysis and structural equation modeling.

Main Results:

• Spiritual well-being and social support demonstrated direct effects on both QoL and IP.
• Social support was the only predictor with a significant indirect correlation with IP.
• Self-esteem showed significant direct effects on both QoL and IP, ranking third.

Conclusions:

• Spiritual interventions are effective strategies for enhancing QoL in breast cancer patients, particularly in religious communities.
• Social support plays a crucial role in improving breast cancer patients' understanding and coping mechanisms.
• Findings underscore the importance of integrating spiritual and social support into breast cancer care plans.