The patients’ (pts) illness perception is based on dimensions of cognitive understanding and emotional representations of disease and its symptoms. Previous studies reported that illness perceptions influence quality of life (QoL) and mood.
212 pts with metastatic breast cancer, under treatment, were evaluated by Illness Perception Questionnaire Brief version (IPQ-B), EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-30) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). IPQ-B higher scores indicate a negative perception. EORTC QLQ-30 higher scores indicate better functioning/QoL or worse symptom severity. Higher HADS indicate higher anxiety/depression (AD) levels. Variables were studied using Pearls correlation (Sig 0.01) and T test. Primary endpoint was evaluation of illness perception. Secondary endpoints were assessment of pts characteristics, QoL, AD and its associations with illness perception.
Median age was 64 years (y) and 99.5% (211 pts) were women. Median IPQ-B score was 18/32. All patients reported that their breast cancer is incurable. Perception of disease consequences was more negative in pts younger than 70y versus 70y or older (2.7 vs 2.3, p = 0.039). Preoccupation and perception of control with treatment were higher in younger pts (3.4 vs 2.9, p = 0.004; 3.6 vs 3.3, p = 0.03; respectively). Pts under chemotherapy and/or anti-HER2 therapy shown a greater impact of disease consequences, than pts under endocrine therapy and/or other target therapies (2.6 vs 2.3, p = 0.039). The mean overall QoL was 54.6/100 (± 23.0). Physical, cognitive, social and emotional functioning mean scores were respectively 60.3, 69.1, 69.3 and 60.3/100; all lower than EORTC ref. values (p < 0.01). Social functioning and IPQ-B shown a moderate negative correlation (r = - 0.507). The mean HADS score was 16.9/42 (± 7.8), reflecting the AD subscales (respectively, 9.1/21; 7.8/21). The overall illness perception and HADS shown a moderate positive association (r = 0.62). Anxiety and the emotional dimension of IPQ-B had a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.598).
Integrating in clinical practice the relation between illness perceptions, QoL and AD, may improve disease’s coping mechanisms and functional capacity (physical, emotional, social).
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