The Influence of Social Relationships on the Quality of Life of Women with Breast Cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Previous studies have examined the influence of cancer treatment on the quality of life of women with breast cancer. In this context the social environment of the patients has rarely been considered.

Purpose: This study explored the influence of different components of the social networks of women with breast cancer on the quality of life.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 75 women (18–63 years; primary, non-metastatic breast cancer) completed a questionnaire at the beginning of an inpatient rehabilitation program. An ego-centered network generator was utilized to analyze the social networks. The quality of life was measured using the EORTC QLQ-C30.

Results: The size of the family network as well as the frequency of contact had an important impact on the quality of life of women with breast cancer.

Conclusions: The knowledge about the composition of the social network of breast cancer patients can provide valuable information throughout the treatment process.

Zusammenfassung

Einleitung: Bisherige Studien haben vor allem den Einfluss behandlungsassoziierter Faktoren auf die Lebensqualität bei Frauen mit Brustkrebs untersucht. Das soziale Umfeld der Patientinnen wurde in diesem Kontext bislang kaum betrachtet.

Ziel: Extraktion von Merkmalen des sozialen Netzwerkes von Frauen mit Brustkrebs, die einen Einfluss auf die Lebensqualität haben.

Methoden: Grundlage der Querschnittsanalyse bildete eine standardisierte schriftliche Befragung von N=75 Frauen mit Brustkrebs (18–63 Jahre) zu Beginn der Rehabilitation. Zur Erhebung der sozialen Beziehungen wurde ein egozentrierter Netzwerkgenerator eingesetzt. Die Lebensqualität wurde mit dem EORTC QLQ-C30 erhoben.

Ergebnisse: Die Größe des familiären Netzwerkes sowie die Häufigkeit des Kontakts haben einen positiven Einfluss auf die Lebensqualität.

Fazit: Das Wissen um die Struktur, Quantität und Qualität des sozialen Netzwerkes von Frauen mit Brustkrebs kann im gesamten Behandlungsprozess wertvolle Informationen bereitstellen.

Key words

breast cancer - oncology - quality of life - social network - social relationships

Schlüsselwörter

Brustkrebs - Onkologie - Lebensqualität - soziales Netzwerk - soziale Beziehungen

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