title: Possible socioeconomic and ethnic disparities in quality of life in a cohort of breast cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This paper describes the ethnic and socioeconomic correlates of functioning in a cohort of long-term nonrecurring breast cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 804) in this study were women from the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study, a population-based, multicenter, multiethnic, prospective study of women newly diagnosed with in situ or Stages I to IIIA breast cancer. Measurements occurred at three timepoints following diagnosis. Outcomes included standardized measures of functioning (MOS SF-36).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, these long-term survivors reported values on two physical function subscales of the SF-36 slightly lower than population norms. Black women reported statistically significantly lower physical functioning (PF) scores (P = 0.01), compared with White and Hispanic women, but higher mental health (MH) scores (P < 0.01) compared with White and Hispanic women. In the final adjusted model, race was significantly related to PF, with Black participants and participants in the "Other" ethnic category reporting poorer functioning compared to the White referent group (P < 0.01, 0.05). Not working outside the home, being retired or disabled and being unemployed (on leave, looking for work) were associated with poorer PF compared to currently working (both P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that race/ethnicity influences psychosocial functioning in breast cancer survivors and can be used to identify need for targeted interventions to improve functioning.
authors.affiliation: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue N, M4-B402, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Alfano
authors.forename: Bonnie A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: McGregor
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuniyuki
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meeske
authors.forename: Kathy B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.forename: Josala
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fetherolf
authors.forename: Bryce B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Reeve
authors.forename: Ashley Wilder
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ganz
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McTiernan
authors.forename: Rachel Ballard
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Barbash
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data