title: Health-related quality of life among breast cancer patients in Lebanon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High incidence rates of breast cancer (BC) emphasize the need to address health-related quality of life (QoL) in this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the QoL, symptom prevalence and management, functional ability, and quality of care in Lebanese women with BC at a tertiary health care facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional descriptive survey targeting Lebanese adults with cancer and using a combination of four instruments: European Organization for Research and treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale; Barthel Index; Needs at End of life Screening Tool, and a demographic/clinical characteristics section. 89 breast cancer patients participated in the study; data was collected from 2009 to 2010. Descriptive analysis in addition to independent sample t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson r correlation were used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most prevalent symptoms were feeling nervous, feeling sad, lack of energy, and pain; symptom management was inadequate; high scores were reported on functional ability, medical care, spirituality, and relationships. Younger, single, and better educated participants who were diagnosed for less than 30 months, had no metastasis, and paid less than $450 dollars per month on medical expenses showed better global health status/QoL. Payments per month for medical expenses, presence of metastasis, time since diagnosis, and type of treatment received were significantly associated with QoL, the different functioning dimensions, and symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strategies addressing symptom management in particular psychological symptoms need to be developed and implemented in addition to a holistic multidisciplinary palliative care approach.
authors.affiliation: Hariri School of Nursing, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon. huda.huijer@aub.edu.lb
authors.forename: Huda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abu-Saad Huijer
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abboud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires