title: Quality of life and psychological well-being of breast cancer survivors in Jordan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Jordanians. Breast cancer patients suffer from several negative consequences after treatment and these include pain, fatigue, sexual problems, appearance and body image concerns, with psychological dysfunction. This could affect the patient quality of life and psychological well-being. To the best of our knowledge, there is no published quantitative data on the quality of life and psychological well-being of breast cancer patients in Jordan. The objective of this study was to obtain such data and assess predictors with calculated scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study conducted among breast cancer patients in Jordan diagnosed in 2009 and 2010, assessment was performed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Breast Module (QLQ-BR23) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Clinical, demographic and psychosocial indicators that could predict patient quality of life scores were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of patients interviewed was 236 (mean age=50.7±10.7 years). The mean Global Health score for the QLQ-C30 was 63.7±20.2 SD. Among functional scales, "social functioning" scored the highest (mean=78.1±28.6 SD), whereas "emotional functioning" scored the lowest (mean=59.0±SD 33.5). For the QLQ-BR23, the worst scores within the functional scales were for "body image" (mean=52.1±36.8 SD) and "future perspective" (mean=52.9±38.5 SD) . The worst symptom was "upset by hair loss" (mean=69.8±43.0). The mean HADS scores was 18.±9.0 SD. Out of study participants, 53% scored abnormal on the anxiety scale and 45% on the depression scale. Severe depression and severe anxiety were detected among 8% and 14% of study participants, respectively. Statistically significant predictors for individual scores were similar to those reported in published studies, such as the presence of recurrence since baseline, family history of cancer, low educational status, current social problems, extent of the disease, presence of financial difficulties, and employment status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breast cancer survivors in Jordan have overall good quality of life scores when compared with patients from Western countries. However, their psychological wellbeing is more impaired. There is an urgent need for psychosocial support programs and psychological screening and consultation for breast cancer patients at hospitals of the Ministry of Health in Jordan.
authors: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University, Karak, Jordan E-mail : mabuhelalah@yahoo.co.uk.
authors: Munir
authors: M
authors: Abu-Helalah
authors: Motasem
authors: M
authors: Al-Hanaqta
authors: Hussam
authors: H
authors: Alshraideh
authors: Nada
authors: N
authors: Abdulbaqi
authors: Jameel
authors: J
authors: Hijazeen
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires