Activities of daily living in women with advanced breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To detail the daily activities of women with advanced breast cancer.


METHODS
Descriptive, qualitative.


METHODS
Six clinical sites in New England. Of the six sites, three were urban, one was suburban, and two were rural, with three sites being comprehensive cancer centers.


METHODS
84 women with a confirmed diagnosis of stage IV breast cancer with a life expectancy of four months or more.


METHODS
A secondary analysis of an expressive writing intervention study control group. As part of the control writing group, participants kept handwritten activity logs for four consecutive days. Standard content analysis procedures were used to analyze the transcribed activity logs.


METHODS
Activities of daily living in women with advanced breast cancer.


RESULTS
22 codes were identified that depicted the daily activities of participants. Subsequent analysis merged the 22 codes into six themes.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings demonstrated that patients with advanced breast cancer are living very full, active lives despite numerous symptoms and cancer treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
The study serves as a foundation for the development of interventions to enhance daily functioning. Oncology nurses should counsel women with advanced cancer regarding pacing and self-care activities.
DeSanto-Madeya
Susan
S
Phyllis F. Cantor Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA. susan.desantomadeya@umb.edu
Bauer-Wu
Susan
S
Gross
Abigail
A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D015984:Causality; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D009511:New England / Q000453:epidemiology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors