[Health-related quality of life from a new perspective - The role of illness representations in patients with breast cancer]. / Az életminõség vizsgálata egy új oldalról ­ a betegségreprezentációk befolyásoló szerepe emlõdaganatos betegeknél.

In the modern oncology care the subject of quality of life has an emphasized importance. In our research we assessed aspects which may predict the quality of life. We hypothesized that after controlling the demographical and some medical factors, psychological distress and illness representations would have significant roles as predictors. The research has been carried out in Budapest at the Radiology Diagnostic Department of the National Institute of Oncology; participants were women (N=221) treated for malignant breast tumour (C50). The research tools included the Shortened Beck Depression Inventory, Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQBR23), Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), and the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R). In terms of functional (ß=-0.705, p=0.000; ß=0.493, p=0.003), and symptom quality of life (ß=0.517, p=0.000) negative affectivity has an outstanding role as predictor. Among the illness representations, the functional quality of life is influenced by cognitions concerning the illness consequences (ß=0.243, p=0.008) and by emotional representations (ß=0.220, p=0.034). Cognitive representations influencing the symptom quality of life are serious consequences (ß=0.240, p=0.016) and illness perception (ß=0.212, p=0.011). In the improvement of quality of life, treating negative affectivity has determining and the modification of dysfunctional illness cognitions play important roles.

[Complex psycho-social intervention program complementing conventional antitumor therapy -- promising results]. / A hagyományos daganatterápiát kiegészíto komplex életmód és pszichoszociális intervenciós program - igen biztató eredményekkel.

The aim of the research was to assess the effectiveness of a comprehensive, complex psycho-social intervention program, operating on different levels of spiritual plane, life management and behavioural health, among women with breast cancer. The general objective of the study was to help in coping, promote cognitive and emotional processing, encourage psychological and spiritual growth, improve the quality of life, and reduce the chances of remission. The research has been carried out in Budapest at the Radiology Diagnostic Department of the National Oncology Institute, involving 173 women treated for malignant breast tumour (C50) (experimental group: n=86, control group: n=87). Thirty-four women from the experimental group participated in the complex intervention program. We carried out two tests: one before the start and one after the end of the program. Research tools: Shortened Beck Depression Inventory, Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-BR23), Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R), the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and the Benefit Finding Questionnaire. The women participating the experimental program showed a significant positive change in comparison to the control group: in anxiety F (1, 65)=6.021, p=0.017; in depression: F(1, 72)=4.347, p=0.041; in experience of personal control: F(1, 69)=7.346, p=0.008; in EORTC General Health/Quality of Life Subscale F(1, 78)=7.531, p=0.008; in EORTC physical functioning F(1, 78)=4.874, p=0.014; in EORTC fatigue F(1, 78)=15.060, p=0.000; in BR23 body-image F(1, 79)=8.828, p=0.004; in BR23 arm symptoms F(1, 78)=7.229, p=0.009; in benefit finding F(1, 80)=21.171, p=0.000, and in posttraumatic growth F(1, 31)=24.186, p=0.000). The program has proven effective, its widespread use in practice is recommended.