Social participation of women with breast cancer compared to the general population 5 years after primary surgery-what role do medical data and cancer-related complaints play?
Support Care Cancer
; 32(8): 566, 2024 Aug 02.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39093481
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
This study analyzes levels of social participation in patients with breast cancer on average 5 years following primary surgery as compared to women in the general population. In addition, the role of breast cancer-related complaints and medical data as possible influencing factors on levels of patients' social participation is investigated.METHODS:
A total of n = 454 patients after primary surgery (t0) were recruited for a third follow-up study, and n = 372 completed this survey (t3), corresponding to a response rate of 82.2%. For measuring breast cancer-related complaints, participants completed a written questionnaire. Social participation was measured by a questionnaire on different leisure activities that was taken from the Socio-Economic Panel Study. Medical information was extracted from medical reports at t0. A principal component analysis was carried out to identify different dimensions of social participation. Chi2-tests and logistic regression analyses were applied to analyze social participation as compared to the general population and the role of possible medical and diagnosis-related influencing factors thereby.RESULTS:
Compared to the general population, patients show lower levels of social participation in the domains "socio-cultural participation" and "participation in institutions," while no significant differences for "social participation in the private sphere" and "social participation via social media" were found. Psychological symptoms, pain, and a history of mastectomy were most strongly associated with restrictions in social participation.CONCLUSIONS:
Our study suggests that social withdrawal may happen due to disease-related symptoms, preventing some breast cancer patients from participating fully in society. Cancer-related follow-ups should address this issue and support patients' reintegration into society through appropriate therapeutic interventions.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Breast Neoplasms
/
Social Participation
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Support Care Cancer
/
Support. care cancer
/
Supportive care in cancer
Journal subject:
NEOPLASIAS
/
SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Alemania
Country of publication:
Alemania