INVESTIGATION OF FACTORS AFFECTING PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT OF PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER

Purpose:Physical, psychological and social variables infl uences psychosocial adjustment to breast cancer diagnosis. This study was carried out to determine the factors that aff ect the psychosocial adjustment of patients with breast cancer.Patients and Methods:The study was carried out in Bursa Ali Osman Sönmez Oncology Hospital between June and September 2007. The sample of the study was composed of 91 patients with breast cancer who accepted to participate to the study. Data were collected by Introductory Information Form and Psychosocial Adjustment to the Illness Scale - Self-Report. Data were evaluated using percentage distribution, ANOVA, t test and Duncan test.Results:The mean age of patients was 51.91±10.91. It was found out that level of psychosocial adjustment of 26.3% of the patients was “good”, level of psychosocial adjustment of 40.7% of them was “fair” and level of psychosocial adjustment of 33% of them was “poor”. According to these fi ndings, child number, family type, education level, occupation, income level, time of illness and effects on the life of illness were found to have an eff ect on patients’ adjustment. Patients’ psychosocial adjustment having single child, living alone, having insuffi cient income, to be aff ected as negative in your life because of the illness and newly diagnosed were found low level. Otherwise patients’ psychosocial adjustment having high education level and retired were found high level.Conclusion:The results of this study showed that sociodemographic and medical factors were eff ective on psychosocial adjustment of patients with breast cancer.