Effects of Illness Perception and Health Beliefs on the Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients in the Yanbian Area of China

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the effects of illness perception and health beliefs on the quality of life (QOL) of breast cancer patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected using questionnaires administered to 200 patients admitted for chemotherapy after a partial or total mastectomy at a university hospital in Yanji City. The data were analyzed using t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis. RESULTS: The QOL of the breast cancer patients was significantly correlated with health beliefs and a subfactor of illness perception. The significant factors influencing QOL were understanding illness and feeling threatened, accounting for 31.7% of the variance in QOL. CONCLUSION: Illness perception of breast cancer patients had a negative influence on QOL, whereas health beliefs affected it positively. An implication of this study's findings is that interventions to reduce negative illness perception can improve the QOL among breast cancer patients.