Health-related quality of life of african american breast cancer survivors compared with healthy African American women.
BACKGROUND
The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer can result in an array of late cancer-specific side effects and changes in general well-being. Research has focused on white samples, limiting our understanding of the unique health-related quality of life outcomes of African American breast cancer survivors (BCSs). Even when African American BCSs have been targeted, research is limited by small samples and failure to include comparisons of peers without a history of breast cancer.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare health-related quality of life of African American female BCSs with that of African American women with no history of breast cancer (control group).


METHODS
A total of 140 women (62 BCSs and 78 controls), 18 years or older and 2 to 10 years postdiagnosis, were recruited from a breast cancer clinic and cancer support groups. Participants provided informed consent and completed a 1-time survey based on the proximal-distal health-related quality of life model of Brenner et al (1995).


RESULTS
After adjusting for age, education, income, and body mass index, results show that African American BCSs experienced more fatigue (P = .001), worse hot flashes (P < .001), and worse sleep quality (P < .001) but more social support from their partner (P = .028) and more positive change (P = .001) compared with African American female controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that African American female BCSs may experience unique health-related outcomes that transcend age, education, socioeconomic status, and body mass index.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest the importance of understanding the survivorship experience for particular racial and ethnic subgroups to proactively assess difficulties and plan interventions.
School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, 46202, USA. dvonah@iupui.edu
Diane M
DM
Von Ah
Kathleen M
KM
Russell
Janet
J
Carpenter
Patrick O
PO
Monahan
Zhao
Z
Qianqian
Eileen
E
Tallman
Kim Wagler
KW
Ziner
Anna Maria
AM
Storniolo
Kathy D
KD
Miller
R Brian
RB
Giesler
Joan
J
Haase
Julie
J
Otte
Victoria L
VL
Champion
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data