Perception, attitudes, preparedness and experience of chemotherapy-induced alopecia among breast cancer patients: a qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
Regardless of its negative impact on quality of life, little is known about the importance of alopecia from the patients' perspective. This study aimed to explore the whole experience of chemotherapy- induced alopecia among Korean breast cancer patients including perception, attitudes, preparedness, and changes after alopecia.


METHODS
Patients expected to experience or had experienced alopecia were recruited at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were performed in 21 patients. Recurrent issues were identified and placed into thematic categories.


RESULTS
All patients think that appearance is important and they pay attention to how they look like. They had negative perceptions about alopecia. Patients were not well prepared for alopecia, and experienced substantial physical, psychological and social distress. Lack of information and limited social support combined with negative images of cancer made it difficult for patients to overcome the trauma and deterred them from usual daily activities resulting in poor quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients were not well prepared for alopecia and negative perceptions, lack of preparedness, and limited social support and resources increased alopecia- related distress. Educational programs for preparing patients to cope with alopecia distress and advocate activities to change people's negative perception about alopecia are needed to reduce the burden imposed by alopecia in cancer patients.
Cancer Education Center, Samsung Comprehensive Cancer Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Im-Ryung
IR
Kim
Juhee
J
Cho
Eun-Kyung
EK
Choi
In Gak
IG
Kwon
Young Hee
YH
Sung
Jeong Eon
JE
Lee
Seok-Jin
SJ
Nam
Jung-Hyun
JH
Yang
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology*; D059031:Anticipation, Psychological; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001290:Attitude; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010465:Perception; D011788:Quality of Life; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012944:Social Support
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents