• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5791-5797
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• 2012

Introduction: Return-to-work (RTW) can be a problematic occupational issue with detrimental impact on the quality of life of previously-employed breast cancer survivors. This study explored barriers and facilitators encountered during the RTW process in the area of cancer survivorship. Materials and Methods: Six focus groups were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide on 40 informants (employed multiethnic survivors). Survivors were stratified into three groups for successfully RTW, and another three groups of survivors who were unable to return to work. Each of the three groups was ethnically homogeneous. Thematic analysis using a constant comparative approach was aided by in vivo software. Results: Participants shared numerous barriers and facilitators which directly or interactively affect RTW. Key barriers were physical-psychological after-effects of treatment, fear of potential environment hazards, high physical job demand, intrusive negative thoughts and overprotective family. Key facilitators were social support, employer support, and regard for financial independence. Across ethnic groups, the main facilitators were financial-independence (for Chinese), and socialisation opportunity (for Malay). A key barrier was after-effects of treatment, expressed across all ethnic groups. Conclusions: Numerous barriers were identified in the non-RTW survivors. Health professionals and especially occupational therapists should be consulted to assist the increasing survivors by providing occupational rehabilitation to enhance RTW amongst employed survivors. Future research to identify prognostic factors can guide clinical efforts to restore cancer survivors to their desired level/type of occupational functioning for productivity and wellbeing.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.241-253
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the mediating effect of social support and resilience on the relationship between symptom distress and coping in young Korean breast cancer survivors. Methods: A purposive sample of 209 young breast-cancer survivors (mean age 39.9) was recruited for a cross-sectional survey, and the data were collected between June and October 2015. The instruments used in this study were the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Cancer Coping Questionnaire. The collected data were then analyzed using the SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0 programs. Results: Symptom distress was found to have a significant indirect effect on coping (beta=-.32, p=.002), but not a significant direct effect (beta=.06, p=.577). Additionally, based on the values obtained for the squared multiple correlation, symptom distress, social support, and resilience were found to explain 46.4% of the total variance of coping. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it can be suggested that in order to enhance young breast cancer survivors' ability to cope with the distress they commonly feel, intervention methods that strengthen resilience and provide social support should be developed and made available to them.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.481-487
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• 2013

Following breast cancer diagnosis, women often attempt to modify their lifestyles to improve their health and prevent recurrence. These behavioral changes typically involve diet and physical activity modification. The aim of this study was to determine association between healthy eating habits and physical activity with quality of life among Iranian breast cancer survivors. A total of 100 Iranian women, aged between 32 to 61 years were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Eating practices were evaluated by a validated questionnaire modified from the Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) study. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). A standardized questionnaire by the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life and its breast cancer module (EORTC QLQ-C30/+BR-23) were applied to determine quality of life. Approximately 29% of the cancer survivors were categorized as having healthy eating practices, 34% had moderate eating practices and 37% had poor eating practices based on nutrition guidelines. The study found positive changes in the decreased intake of fast foods (90%), red meat (70%) and increased intake of fruits (85%) and vegetables (78%). Generally, breast cancer survivors with healthy eating practices had better global quality of life, social, emotional, cognitive and role functions. Results showed that only 12 women (12%) met the criteria for regular vigorous exercise, 22% had regular moderate-intensity exercise while the majority (65%) had low-intensity physical activity. Breast cancer survivors with higher level of physical activity had better emotional and cognitive functions. Healthy eating practices and physical activity can improve quality of life of cancer survivors. Health care professionals should promote good dietary habits and physical activity to improve survivor's health and quality of life.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1729-1736
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations among the internal health locus of control, depression, perceived health status, self efficacy, social support, and health-promoting behavior in Iranian breast cancer survivors and to determine influential variables. Materials and Methods: A predictive design was adopted. By convenient sampling the data of 262 breast cancer survivors in Iran were collected by questionnaires during 2014. Data were analyzed applying descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: The internal health locus of control, depression, perceived health status, self efficacy, social support and undergoing chemotherapy all correlated significantly with the health-promoting lifestyle. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that social internal health locus of control, depression, perceived health status, self efficacy and social support and chemotherapy accounted for about 39.8% of the variance in health promoting lifestyle. The strongest influence was social support, followed by self efficacy, perceived health status, chemotherapy and depression. Conclusions: The results of the study clarifed the seriousness of social support, self efficacy, perceived health status and depression in determining the health-promoting lifestyle among Iranian breast cancer survivors. Health professionals should concentrate on these variables in designing plans to promoting a healthy lifestyle.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.5-27
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• 2008

Purpose: This study aims to better understand the quality of life (QOL) for Korean breast and gynecological cancer survivors by examining the differences in multi-dimensional QOL outcomes according to stage of cancer survivorship. Methods: To identify the multiple dimensions of health status and psychosocial outcomes, three standardized QOL and psychological distress measures were administered to 110 Korean breast and gynecological cancer survivors. These participants were divided into three groups based on the stage of cancer survivorship. Results: Analyses of covariance revealed that once important confounders were controlled for, QOL outcomes were partially different depending on the stage of cancer survivorship. Results for SF-36 measure showed significant differences between acute and long-term survival stages, indicating that QOL for cancer survivors had gradually improved in the physical domain. However, there were no significant group differences in the psychological domain of SF-36. Additionally, QOL-CS and BSI-18 measures did not show significant QOL differences according to the stage of cancer survivorship. Conclusions: Evidence that, for Korean survivors, QOL outcomes differ according to the stage of cancer survivorship serves as a rationale for developing discriminatory strategies and interventions that take into account survival stage.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2020

Purpose: This study identified the effects of physical therapists on the quality of life when applying exercise-based movement techniques to breast cancer survivors. Methods: To conduct meta-analysis, 186 RCT studies were searched in five databases (RISS, Pubmed, CINAHL, Medline, and Cochrane Library), without limitation, for the year of publication, and papers published in April 2018 were selected. Four studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for meta-analysis based on the risk of bias. The basic demographic data, athletic characteristics, and outcome data were extracted from all included clinical trials. The data were analyzed using the RevMan 5.2 program. Results: As a result of meta-analysis, exercise-based movement techniques applied by the control group (Pilates, yoga, tai chi, and qigong) or physical therapists showed no significant difference in the impact on the quality of life of breast cancer survivors. Conclusion: In this study, exercise-based movement techniques mediated by control groups or physical therapists showed no significant difference in the quality of life of breast cancer survivors, but the types and duration of exercise in each study varied, and the number of subjects was small. Considering randomized studies, more randomized studies will be needed to draw conclusions.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine effects of a sexual function improvement program on sexual distress, sexual satisfaction and marital intimacy among breast cancer survivors. Methods: With quasi-experimental design, a total of 54 women after breast surgery were assigned into experimental group (n=28) and control group (n=26) after recruited via convenience sampling. They were endocrine surgery outpatients in university hospital at Chonnam province. Experimental group received a sexual function improvement program 5 sessions over 5 weeks. Sexual distress, sexual satisfaction, and marital intimacy were examined with self-report structured questionaries. Data were analyzed using $x^2$ test, Fisher's exact, independent t-test, and analysis of covariance with SPSS 17.0/window program. Results: Women who participated in the sexual function improvement program had lower sexual distress (F=27.29, p<.001), higher sexual satisfaction (t=3.09, p=.003) higher marital intimacy (F=17.51, p<.001) than the women who did not participate. Conclusion: Results suggest that a sexual function improvement program can be effective strategy to improve sexual distress, sexual satisfaction and marital intimacy. Therefore, this program can be regarded as useful nursing intervention program for breast cancer survivors.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.446-459
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the reported experiences of sexuality among Korean women who are breast cancer survivors. Methods: Participants of this study were 12 women who had breast cancer surgery. Data were collected October, 2010 to January, 2011 through in-depth interviews by using tape-recordings. Data were analyzed with Colaizzi's (1978) phenomenological methodology. Results: From significant statements, four categories, ten theme clusters and 32 themes were extracted from the essential meaning of the sexuality experience as reported by the women participants. Within the four categories were 'Negatively changed in sexuality', 'Feeling of great loss as a woman', 'Changed martial relations with husband', and 'Turning to the happy life'. 'Overcoming sexuality caused by distress and feeling of loss' was united from four categories. Conclusion: The results of this study could help contribute to provide educational program on sexuality to improve sexual well-being and quality of life of women with breast cancer survivors and their spouses.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.3188-3198
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• 2015

This study explores the health behaviors and related situations of Korean low-income breast cancer survivors using in-depth interview. The study derives 95 concepts, 23 sub-categories and 12 categories in open coding. Illness experiences were categorized by behavioral, psychological, and social domains, cognitive were categorized by causal and destiny thought, emotions were categorized by negative, positive emotion, reserve capacity were categorized by internal and external domains and health behaviors were categorized by behavioral, psychological, and social domains. Understanding illness experience, cognitive, emotion, reserve capacity and health behaviors for Korean low-income breast cancer survivors will be useful in developing social welfare interventions and for enhancing health promotion.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.171-179
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify effectiveness of a BeHaS exercise program in breast cancer survivors. The subjects of breast cancer survivors participating in this research were selected from C National University Hospital. Methods: This study used non equivalent control group non-synchronized design with an experimental group (n=27) and a control group (n=31). The BeHaS exercise program consisted of theme activity, education, group support and exercise. The experimental group participated in session twice a week for ten weeks. Grip strength, perceived stress, cortisol, and self-esteem were measured. Data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 12.0. Results: After the program, the grip strength and self-esteem of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. The perceived stress of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed that BeHaS exercise program played a useful role in improving breast cancer survivor's physical and psychological problem.