Table 1.
Comparisons of sociodemographic and disease-related characteristics among three QOL trajectory patterns (N = 124)
| Characteristics | Categories | Total (N = 124) | Consistently low QOL group (N = 27) | Consistently moderate QOL group (N = 57) | Consistently high QOL group (N = 40) | χ2 or F | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N (%) or Mean ± SD | N (%) or Mean ± SD | N (%) or Mean ± SD | N (%) or Mean ± SD | ||||
| Age (years, range: 26–54) | 48.75 ± 8.01 | 49.70 ± 6.63 | 49.37 ± 7.99 | 47.23 ± 8.82 | 1.09 | 0.340 | |
| ~ 44 | 39 (31.5) | 7 (5.6) | 17 (13.7) | 15 (12.1) | |||
| 46 ~ 54 | 51 (41.1) | 13 (10.5) | 24 (19.4) | 14 (11.3) | |||
| 55 ~ | 34 (27.4) | 7 (5.6) | 16 (12.9) | 11 (8.9) | |||
| Educational level | ≤ High school | 72 (58.0) | 16 (12.9) | 37 (29.9) | 19 (15.3) | 2.95 | 0.229 |
| ≥ University | 52 (42.0) | 11 (8.9) | 20 (16.1) | 21 (16.9) | |||
| Spouse | No | 13 (10.5) | 4 (3.2) | 2 (1.6) | 7 (5.6) | 5.59 | 0.061 |
| Yes | 111 (89.5) | 23 (18.6) | 55 (44.4) | 33 (26.6) | |||
| Religion | No | 67 (54.0) | 11 (8.9) | 33 (26.6) | 23 (18.5) | 2.46 | 0.293 |
| Yes | 57 (46.0) | 16 (12.9) | 24 (19.4) | 17 (13.7) | |||
| Perceived economic status | High | 7 (5.6) | 3 (2.4) | 2 (1.6) | 2 (1.6) | 10.21 | 0.037 |
| Middle | 95 (76.6) | 15 (12.1) | 45 (36.3) | 35 (28.2) | |||
| Low | 22 (17.8) | 9 (7.3) | 10 (8.1) | 3 (2.4) | |||
| Perceived economic burden | None | 28 (22.6) | 4 (3.2) | 6 (4.8) | 18 (14.5) | 20.33 | < 0.001 |
| Little | 84 (67.7) | 18 (14.5) | 47 (37.9) | 19 (15.3) | |||
| Severe | 12 (9.7) | 5 (4.0) | 4 (3.2) | 3 (2.4) | |||
| Employment status | Unemployed | 83 (66.9) | 18 (14.5) | 38 (30.6) | 27 (21.8) | 0.01 | 0.996 |
| Employed | 41 (33.1) | 9 (7.3) | 19 (15.3) | 13 (10.5) | |||
| Stage of cancer | 1 | 72 (58.1) | 16 (12.9) | 32 (25.8) | 24 (19.4) | 2.19 | 0.700 |
| 2 | 38 (30.6) | 9 (7.3) | 16 (12.9) | 13 (10.5) | |||
| 3 | 14 (11.3) | 2 (1.6) | 9 (7.3) | 3 (2.4) | |||
| Type of surgery | Partial mastectomy | 96 (77.4) | 22 (17.7) | 42 (33.9) | 32 (25.8) | 0.86 | 0.650 |
| Total mastectomy | 28 (22.6) | 5 (4.0) | 15 (12.1) | 8 (6.5) | |||
| Chemotherapy | No | 54 (43.5) | 11 (8.9) | 25 (20.2) | 18 (14.5) | 2.15 | 0.905 |
| Yes | 70 (56.5) | 16 (12.9) | 32 (25.8) | 22 (17.7) | |||
| Radiotherapy | No | 11 (8.9) | 3 (2.4) | 6 (4.8) | 2 (1.6) | 1.10 | 0.576 |
| Yes | 113 (91.1) | 24 (19.4) | 51 (41.1) | 38 (30.6) | |||
| Hormone therapy | No | 16 (12.9) | 3 (2.4) | 6 (4.8) | 7 (5.6) | 1.12 | 0.572 |
| Yes | 108 (87.1) | 24 (19.4) | 51 (41.1) | 33 (26.6) | |||
| Target therapy | No | 104 (83.9) | 22 (17.7) | 52 (41.9) | 30 (24.2) | 4.72 | 0.094 |
| Yes | 20 (16.1) | 5 (4.0) | 5 (4.0) | 10 (8.1) |
N number, SD standard deviation, QOL quality of life