Health-related quality of life among long-term female breast cancer survivors in Yerevan: a mixed methods study

Abstract

BC is one of the biggest public health problems throughout the world without any geographic exceptions and the main cause of death from malignant growth among women universally. Incidence rates extremely vary worldwide from 19.3 per 100,000 women in Eastern Africa to 89.7 per 100,000 women in Western Europe. According to GLOBOCAN 2012, the age-standardised incidence rate for BC was 74.1 per 100,000 and the age-standardised mortality rate was 24.3 per 100.000 in the same year in Armenia. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a quite broad, complex idea that includes symptoms of disease or health condition, treatment side effects, and functional status across physical, social, and mental health life domains. Various socio-demographic factors (i.e. age, marital status), were shown to be related with HRQoL among BC survivors. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a quite broad, complex idea that includes symptoms of disease or health condition, treatment side effects, and functional status across physical, social, and mental health life domains. Various socio-demographic factors (i.e. age, marital status), were shown to be related with HRQoL among BC survivors. To date, no studies explored long-term cancer survivorship and the quality of life of breast cancer survivors in Armenia. Aim: The aim of the proposed study is to explore HRQoL outcomes and needs in supportive care in disease-free breast cancer survivors in Armenia. Methods: A two-phase sequential mixed method design will be adopted with the quantitative phase followed by a qualitative study. Women, diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, received the treatment in one of the oncology centers located in Yerevan, survived till 2015, were free of other cancers in the past 5 years, able to speak Armenian and residing in Yerevan will be considered eligible for the study. Using standardized instruments, a cross-sectional survey will be conducted to examine the HRQoL and associated factors. The qualitative methodology will involve individual in-depth interviews with the survivors to explore their survivorship experience, including their perceived physical and psychosocial issues and needs. A structured interview tool will be used to gather socio-demographic characteristics, cancer-specific medical characteristics, general health and co-morbidity characteristics and social support characteristics. Analysis: For the quantitative part of the study, data will be double-entered into SPSS 12. Analysis will include the descriptive analysis, T- and chi-square tests. Moreover, a univariate linear regression and multivariate model will be utilized. Qualitatively collected data will be stored on the investigator’s computer and participants will have their identification numbers. Audio recordings will be protected with the password. After data analysis, questionnaires and notes will be destroyed. An inductive concurrent content analysis will be utilized to analyze the transcribed in-depth interviews. The total budget estimate for the research is 2.866.000 AMD and it will last four months. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the American University of Armenia (AUA) reviewed and approved the study protocol.