Abstract

Objective

Current research on the physical and psychological functioning of breast cancer survivors often takes an approach where symptoms are studied independently even though they often occur in clusters This paper aims to identify physical and psychological symptom clusters among breast cancer survivors while assessing clinical, psychosocial and demographic characteristics that predict subgroup membership.

Design

Using post-surgical data collected from 240 women with stage 0–III breast cancer, symptom clusters were identified using latent profile analysis of patient-reported symptoms.

Main Outcome Measures

Baseline measures included the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, the Fatigue Symptom Inventory, the Hamilton Rating Scales for depression and anxiety and the Impact of Event Scale.

Results

Three distinct classes were identified: (1) mild physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms, (2) moderate across all domains and (3) high levels of all symptoms. Lower socio-economic status, minority ethnicity, younger age, advanced disease stage along with lower self-efficacy and less internal locus of control were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of class 3 membership.

Conclusion

By identifying those most at risk for severe physical and psychological symptoms in the post-surgical period, our results can guide the development of tailored interventions to optimise quality of life during breast cancer treatment.

中文翻译：

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用于评估乳腺癌女性身体、认知和情绪症状群的潜在特征分析

摘要

客观的

目前对乳腺癌幸存者身体和心理功能的研究通常采取独立研究症状的方法，即使这些症状经常成群出现。本文旨在识别乳腺癌幸存者的身体和心理症状群，同时评估临床、心理社会和人口特征预测子组成员资格。

设计

使用从 240 名 0-III 期乳腺癌女性收集的术后数据，通过对患者报告症状的潜在特征分析来识别症状群。

主要观察指标

基线测量包括匹兹堡睡眠质量指数、疲劳症状量表、汉密尔顿抑郁和焦虑评定量表以及事件影响量表。

结果

确定了三个不同的类别：(1) 轻微的身体、认知和情感症状，(2) 所有领域的中度症状，(3) 所有症状的严重程度。较低的社会经济地位、少数族裔、较年轻的年龄、晚期疾病阶段以及较低的自我效能感和较少的内部控制点与第 3 类成员资格的较高可能性显着相关。

结论

通过识别术后阶段最有可能出现严重身体和心理症状的人，我们的结果可以指导制定量身定制的干预措施，以优化乳腺癌治疗期间的生活质量。