ICHNTT 2018 : 20th International Conference on

Humanistic Nursing and Transcultural Theory

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
December 5 - 6, 2018

QUALITY OF LIFE OF WOMEN

WITH BREAST CANCER AND ITS
CORRELATION WITH
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY.
Assoc. Professor Maria Malliarou, Efrossini Lyraraki, Assist.
Professor Pavlos Sarafis, Assist. Professor Theodosios
Paralikas, Assist. Professor Styliani Kotrotsiou, Prof.
Evangelia Kotrotsiou, Prof. Mary Gouva
 ICHNTT 2018 : 20th International Conference on
Humanistic Nursing and Transcultural Theory
Introduction Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
December 5 - 6, 2018

■ Women with breast cancer have to adapt to physical malformations, side effects of
chemotherapy, emotional insecurity, and changes in social roles. Inability to
recognize the co-morbidity of psychiatric conditions can have an aggravating effect
on patient compliance in therapeutic interventions, resulting in treatment delays
and an impact on overall survival.

27/11/2018 Associate Professor Maria Malliarou 2

 ICHNTT 2018 : 20th International Conference
on Humanistic Nursing and Transcultural

Purpose of study - methodology

Theory
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
December 5 - 6, 2018

■ The purpose of this study was to identify quality of life of breast cancer patients
undergoing external radiation therapy and to correlate it with depression and
anxiety.
■ Patients were asked to respond to an anonymous questionnaire with general
demographic and clinical questions, followed by the EORTCQLQ-C30 questionnaire
for assessing the quality of life of patients with breast cancer. Hospital Anxiety and
Depression Scale (HADS) as well as the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-
21) was also administered.
■ The statistical analysis of the data was done in IBM SPSS.

27/11/2018 Associate Professor Maria Malliarou 3

 ICHNTT 2018 : 20th International
Conference on Humanistic
Nursing and Transcultural Theory

Results - conclusion
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
December 5 - 6, 2018

■ Results indicated that the incidence of anxiety and depression in breast cancer
patients is high both in HADS (37.5 % with mild to moderate depression and 62.5 %
with significant to severe depression) and DASS - 21 (39.2 % mild to moderate
depression and 60.8 % significant to severe) scales. The correlation of anxiety and
depression with life quality was negative for HADS (r = -, 810, p = .000) as well as for
DASS-21 (r = -, 682, p = .000).
■ The psychological impact of breast cancer on patients is important. Its correlation
with the quality of life may lead to better tolerance to treatment and better
effectiveness of the therapeutic approach.

27/11/2018 Associate Professor Maria Malliarou 4

 ICHNTT 2018 : 20th International
Conference on Humanistic
Nursing and Transcultural Theory

Communication info
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
December 5 - 6, 2018

■ M. M. is Associate Professor in the Technological educational Institute of Thessaly, Nursing Department, Greece
(e-mail: malliarou@teilar.gr & mmalliarou@gmail.com).
■ E L. is a graduate of MSc in Management of Health Services of Hellenic Open University
(e-mail: elyraraki@gmail.com ).
■ P. S. Author is Assistant Professor with the Cyprus University of Technology Nursing Department,
(e-mail: pavlos.sarafis@cut.ac.cy)
■ T. P and S. K are Assistant Professors in the Technological educational Institute of Thessaly, Nursing Department,
Greece.
(e-mail: paralikas@teilar.gr skotrots1963@yahoo.gr )
■ E. K is Professor in the Technological educational Institute of Thessaly, Nursing Department, Greece
(ekotrotsiou@yahoo.gr)
■ M. G. is Professor in University of Ioannina, Nursing Department the e-mail: (gouva@ioa.teiep.gr)
■

27/11/2018 Associate Professor Maria Malliarou 5