Cognitive Dysfunction and Its Relationship to Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors

Purpose/Objectives: To examine relationships between capacity to direct attention and the quality-of-life (QOL) domains of psychological and physical well-being in breast cancer survivors.Design: Descriptive, correlational.Setting: National Cancer Institute-designated oncology and county hospital outpatient clinics in the midwestern region of the United States.Sample: 134 breast cancer survivors aged 32-79 years (X = 56.3, SD = 9.4) with a mean of 6.4 years since diagnosis (SD = 2.8, range = 1-10).Methods: Secondary analysis of questionnaire data measuring cognitive dysfunction and two QOL domains. Descriptive statistics, Pearson or Spearman correlations, and multiple regression analysis were used.Main Research Variables: Capacity to direct attention, as well as psychological and physical well-being.Findings: Deficits in capacity to direct attention were related to poorer QOL, including more depressive symptoms, lower well-being, poorer physical functioning, and greater fatigue.Conclusions: Capacity to direct attention was related to psychological and physical well-being in breast cancer survivors.Implications for Nursing: Nurses are in a prime position to assess breast cancer survivors' capacity to direct attention and resulting relationships with QOL. Findings suggest that nursing interventions that address survivors' capacity to direct attention may have a broad impact on QOL.