Rose C. Maly|Yihang Liu|Li?Jung Liang|Patricia A. Ganz
Quality of life over 5 years after a breast cancer diagnosis among low?income women: Effects of race/ethnicity and patient?physician communication
University of California, Los Angeles|University of California, Los Angeles|University of California, Los Angeles|University of California, Los Angeles|Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
background current study performed identify risk factors lower quality life qol among lowincome women breast cancer bc emphasis impact patientphysician communication addition ethnicracial group differences qol changes time examined methods longitudinal study conducted among 921 lowincome women bc patients interviewed 6 months 18 months 36 months 60 months diagnosis bc mixedeffect regression models performed investigate predictors time effects qol main outcomes included medical outcomes study health survey short form36 mental component summary scale sf36 mcs medical outcomes study health survey short form36 physical component summary scale sf36 pcs ladder life scale chief independent variables included physician informationgiving patient selfefficacy interacting physicians results significant changes noted time qol except regard physical functioning survivors reporting significant decrease time p lt0001 mean sf36 mcs sf36 pcs scores lower national general population norms time points patient selfefficacy interacting physicians physician informationgiving found positively associated sf36 mcs p 03 p 02 respectively ladder life p 01 p 03 respectively scales latinas less acculturated reported higher sf36 mcs sf36 pcs scores p lt0001 p 01 respectively better global qol p lt0001 white women conclusions lowincome women bc experienced poor physical mental health results current study suggest qol among lowincome women bc would enhanced interventions aimed empowering patients communicating physicians increasing amount information provided physicians cancer 2015121916926 2014 american cancer society