Association between acceptance of illness, anxiety and depression with assessment quality of life of breast cancer patients

Abstract

Introduction. Cancer disease is often synonymous with a lengthy and cumbersome treatment process for the patient and a reduction in quality of life (QoL). The attitude to the disease affects the treatment process and the level of acceptance of the illness determines the well-being of the patient, the level of trust in the medical staff and methods of treatment. It is also associated with the success of the therapy.

Material and methods. The study included 112 women diagnosed with breast cancer treated at Lower Silesian Oncology Center. The study used a standardized questionnaire tools: AIS-scale acceptance of the illness, QoL WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, HADS-M questionnaire.

Results. Correlation analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between the level of acceptance of the illness and all the domains of QoL WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire: somatic domain (r = 0.47; p < 0.001), psychological domain (r = 0.40; p < 0.001), social domain (r = 0.39; p < 0.001), environmental domain (r = 0.46; p < 0.001). Analysis of correlation between anxiety and depression with the assessment of acceptance of the illness showed a negative influence of all components of the questionnaire HADS-M level AIS, as appropriate: anxiety (r = -0.51; p < 0.001), depression (r = -0.57; p < 0.001), irritability (r = -0.32; p = 0.001). A similar relationship was observed in the analysis of the correlation of anxiety and depression, quality of life in all domains of the questionnaire WHOQOL-BREF.

Conclusions. Patients with breast cancer presented a medium level of acceptance of the illness and limiting level of anxiety and depression. There is a positive relationship between acceptance of the illness with the assessment of QoL, while anxiety and depression negatively affects the assessment of QoL.