Effect of Family Medicine-based Care on Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients
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Abstract
Purpose: To compare the quality of life between patients with breast cancer who received family medicine-based care and those who received conventional care.
Methods: This was a cohort study, non-parallel group (different time, historical control). We compared the quality of life (using WHOQOL–BREF–THAI) between patients with breast cancer who received family medicine-based care and the other group who received conventional care. Demographic data and quality of life were collected from our hospital database. Forty-two (42) patients who received family medicine-based care were included as the experimental group, and 42 patients who had received conventional breast cancer care were included as the control group. Demographic data and quality of life were collected between December 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017. The data were statistically analyzed using chi-squared test for the difference of outcomes.
Results: In both groups, the most common age of diagnosis was between 35 and 45 years. Patients were diagnosed earlier (Stage 1-2) in the experimental group (p<0.05). Complications related to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy were not statistically different in both groups. Other demographic data and socioeconomic status were not statistically different in both groups. The quality of life (QOL) in terms of mental health, social relationships, environmental relationships and overall QOL were higher in the experimental group. (p<0.05)
Conclusions: Family medicine-based care is useful for improving quality of life of patients with breast cancer and could be applied to other diseases.
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References
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