UNDERSTANDINGS OF ILLNESS AND ITS PREDICTORS IN IRANIAN WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER REFERRING TO ONCOLOGY CENTERS OF ARAK, 2017-2018

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Illness perception is Important issues affect cancer control and management. The aim of this study was to determine the illness perception and its predictors in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 190 women with breast cancer who referred to the oncology centers of Arak, Iran, for chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling method from September 2017 to May 2018. Data were collected using Demographic and disease characteristics questionnaires, and Illness Perception Questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS ver.24, one-way ANOVA, independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate linear regression.

The mean (standard deviation) score of illness perception was 38.9 (13.1) (range from 0-80). There was no significant difference in terms of illness perception between patients in the chemotherapy and radiotherapy groups (p>0.05). The type of breast disease and the last time the cancer diagnosed, spouse’s age were predictors of perception of illness.

According to less stress and perception of illness with spending a period of time since diagnosing a disease, more psychosocial and social support is required to adjust the breast cancer at early stages of the disease.