EVALUATION OF ILLNESS PERCEPTION OF BREAST CANCER IN PATIENTS

Objectives: In this study we tried to assess and compare the illness perception of breast cancer in patients, families, normal population and nurses of chemotherapy section. The main objectives of this project is to determine the dimensions of breast cancer perception in the above four groups. Method: In this cross-sectional study, 225 subjects were assessed: 65 women with breast cancer from Cancer Institute, 65 relatives, 70 normal subjects who were matched with patient group and 25 nurses from chemotherapy section. Three questioners completed the IPQ-R questionnaire which included nine aspects of breast cancer perception. Results: Breast cancer perception in normal group is significantly different from patients and their families. Their beliefs about timeline were more negative than family group, and both of them were more negative than patients. Also, the family group considered the effects and consequences of the disease more negatively than patients. On the other hand, the normal group attitudes toward curability are more negative than family and patient groups. The nurse’s views about breast cancer in terms of the number of symptoms, timeline of disease, treatment control, and the causes of cancer were different from patient group. Regarding the four subscales of causes, there were significant differences between normal subjects on one hand and family/patient groups, on the other hand. These differences were about the psychological, internal, causal attributions and chance beliefs. Normal subjects had weaker beliefs about psychological and chance causes and more strong believe about internal causal attributions. Conclusion: rceptions of breast cancer in patients is more positive than their relatives, general population and nurses. These perceptions are more positive in patient’s relatives comparing to normal subjects or nurses.