Lebensqualität von Brustkrebspatientinnen bei offener und verschlossener Reaktion auf ein Gesprächs- und Informationsangebot

In the previous decade the guidelines of the follow-up for breast cancer have changed. Therefore they are shown in the first chapters which contain as well the concept of quality of life, some information about breast cancer and information about coping strategies. Afterwards the results of 204 patients with breast cancer who have had an operation between 1996 and 1998 are presentend. The quality of life has been measured during a follow-up period of one year with the quality of life questionnaire of the EORTC. The first result is that the quality of life rises significantly for all patients during one year. A group of patients with an open attitude towards the offered information and talks (n=43) have a lower quality of life than patients with a closed attitude for information and talks (n=12). Patients that are indifferent about the offered information and talks take a place inbetween (n=149) concerning the quality of life. A further result is the difference in the quality of life scored by the patients versus assessed by the interviewers. Patients rate their own quality of life significantly lower (mean 58) than the interviewers assess the quality of life (mean 63,2) of the patients. The results suggest that the open-minded patients inherit more distress while the closed patients are able to maintain a higher level of quality of life due to a distance from the illness. The results concerning the assessment of quality of life by patients versus the interviewers differ from the results described in the literature. In this study it is shown that there are different attitudes in the follow-up period of patients with breast cancer. For a better understanding of the psychosocial situation of the patients and improvement of the follow-up setting further research is needed.In the previous decade the guidelines of the follow-up for breast cancer have changed. Therefore they are shown in the first chapters which contain as well the concept of quality of life, some information about breast cancer and information about coping strategies. Afterwards the results of 204 patients with breast cancer who have had an operation between 1996 and 1998 are presentend. The quality of life has been measured during a follow-up period of one year with the quality of life questionnaire of the EORTC. The first result is that the quality of life rises significantly for all patients during one year. A group of patients with an open attitude towards the offered information and talks (n=43) have a lower quality of life than patients with a closed attitude for information and talks (n=12). Patients that are indifferent about the offered information and talks take a place inbetween (n=149) concerning the quality of life. A further result is the difference in the quality of life scored by the patients versus assessed by the interviewers. Patients rate their own quality of life significantly lower (mean 58) than the interviewers assess the quality of life (mean 63,2) of the patients. The results suggest that the open-minded patients inherit more distress while the closed patients are able to maintain a higher level of quality of life due to a distance from the illness. The results concerning the assessment of quality of life by patients versus the interviewers differ from the results described in the literature. In this study it is shown that there are different attitudes in the follow-up period of patients with breast cancer. For a better understanding of the psychosocial situation of the patients and improvement of the follow-up setting further research is needed.