Social support and quality of life among female breast cancer patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia 2019:Cross-sectional study

Background Breast cancer is a major life-threatening public health problem worlwide. It is the most common form of cancer among women in many developing countries including Ethiopia. Social support could change the course of cancer and can inuence the quality of life among breast cancer patients. Therefore, purpose of this study was to assess social support and quality of life among female breast cancer patients attending in Tikur Anbassa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2019. Methods A Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia from March to April 2019. A total of 214 female breast cancer patients were included and a systematic sampling method was used. A structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used. Data entry was done using epi data manager version 4.2. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25. Binary and multiple logistic regression was used to show the association of social support and quality of life. Variables signicantly associated were declared at P-value <0.05 and 95%CI was used.


Background
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts through milk. It is the most common cancer and the principal cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide (1). Different studies have shown that the number of patients with breast cancer is rising sharply in recent years. Its burden has become a major public health problem in developing regions (2).
In Ethiopia, around 60,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed yearly (3). Reports indicated that breast cancer was the common cancer which accounts around 33% of all female cancer cases (4). Food insecurity and children withdrawal from school, increased work burden on children and loss of assets were the common problems following death of women with breast cancer during their most productive years (5).
Perceived social support has been shown to be positively correlated with quality of life among breast cancer patients (6). Social support is a critical part of physical and mental health when fronting cancer care. However, it does not supernaturally appear and people are reluctant to request for help, even when they want it. Psychological research displays that people signi cantly underestimate the readiness of others to help (7). Preceding studies have initiated that good social support is associated with better survival (8) and a better quality of life after breast cancer. A recent meta-analysis combining data from 87 studies of social support and cancer consequences reported stronger inverse associations through cancer mortality among breast cancer survivors compared with other cancer sites (9).
In a study conducted in Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital, it accounts for 29.4% of cancer cases followed by cancer of the cervix 26.3% (10). Among cancer survivors, social support has been related to improved quality of life (11).
Study done on the association between social support and cancer survival stated having high levels of perceived social support and being married were connected with declines in risk ratios for mortality of 25% and 12%, respectively (9) and other literature supposed that important relations of social support and quality of life outcomes for types of social support are signi cant mechanisms through which naturally occurring networks in uence QOL outcomes after a breast cancer diagnosis (11).
Social-support can disturb how individuals access the health care system or health information (12) and can in uence insights into normative health behaviors (13). The impact of social support and quality of life has not been well characterized on Ethiopian breast cancer patients. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess social support and quality of life among female breast cancer patients, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Study Area and Setting
The study was conducted at the Oncology center, TASH, Addis Ababa. It is the largest city in Ethiopia, with a population of 3,475,952 according to the 2007 population census. Addis Ababa has 41 hospitals (13 public and 28 NGO and private), 29 health centers 122 health stations, 37 health posts and 382 modern private clinics (10).
Tikur Anbassa Specialized Hospital is a government-owned large referral teaching hospital, located in Kirkos sub-city under the administration of Addis Ababa University, College of Health sciences. The oncology center at the Hospital is the only referral center in the country (14).

Study Design and Period
A Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March1 to April 1/ 2019. Operational De nition Social support: de ned as the degree to which interpersonal relationships serve particular support or functions (including emotional/informational support, tangible support, positive social interaction, and affectionate support (16).
Good social support: Participants who were scored mean and above the mean for social support questions.
Poor social support: Participants who were scored below the mean for social support questions.
Quality of life: Assessed by using functional scales, symptom scales, and global health status scales (17).

Data collection tools
Data was collected by using a structured questionnaire that was adapted from literature (16)(17)(18). The questionnaire was 1 st prepared in English and then translated to the Amharic language by experts and, then re-translated back to English by another expert to ensure the uniformity of the instrument. Five percent of the sample size was pre-tested in Haleluia hospital to check the calarity of the questionarie.

Data collection procedure
Six BSc nurses and two MSc supervisors were used for data collection. One day training was given for clari cation of some terms and assessment tools, the aim of the study concerning the need for strict con dentiality of respondent's information and time of data collection. Supervisors were closely monitored daily data during data collection.

Data quality control
A pre-teste was done on 5% of the total sample size. One full-day training was given for data collectors and supervisors regarding the study, the questionnaire and the data collection procedure. The Collected data were checked every day by supervisors and principal investigators for its completeness. Data was kept in the secured place where no one can access it and con dentiality were ensured by not recording names or any personal identity.

Data processing and analysis
Data were checked , cleaned and coded before entered to epi-data manager version 4.2. Next data was entered (double entry) into epi-data and transferred into SPSS version 25 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic characteristics. Logistic(bivariate and multivariate) regression models were used to evaluate associations between social support, and quality of life at 95 % CI . Variables found to have a P-value<0.2 in the binary logistic regression were entered into multivariate analysis and strength of association was declared at P value<0.05.

Ethical consideration
Ethical clearance was obtained from the institutional review board of Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery. A support letter from the School of Nursing and Midwifery was written to Tikur Anbesa Specialized hospital. Informed written consent was gained from all study participants. Participants were informed about the importance of the study and respondents were reassured that they would be anonymous (unnamed). Then respondents were given a chance to ask anything about the study and were free to refuse or stop at any moment they want if their choice.

Results
Socio-demographic characteristics of the participants A total of 214 participants were included in this study. Social support characteristics of the participants Among the total respondents, 175(81.8%) had someone to listen to them when they need to talk and they got good advice about their problem. The majority of them, 177(82.7%) got information that helps them to understand a situation and 178 (83.2%) of them had a person to share their most private worries and fears. Among the total participants, 182(84.3%) had someone to help them when they were con ned to bed. Of the respondents, 170 (80.1%) had someone to prepare their meals if they were unable to do it themselves and 173 (80.8%) participants had someone to help with daily activity when they were sick ( Table 2).
The social support status of the participants was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale of 19 items. For each item participants who responded some of the time and most of the time were classi ed as having good social support and participants who scored mean and above the mean (44.17) of the total 19 items were classi ed having as good social support. Baseds on this, women with breast cancer who had good social support were 124 (58%).

Quality of life of the participants
Participants scored a global health status scale with a mean=83.61 and SD=20.9. From EORTC-C30 Functional scales the best score was observed a mean of 75.5 (SD=26) for social functioning. Whereas, in the QLQ-BR23 functioning scales, the best score was observed for future perspective mean=78 and SD=33.6). Participants also had a low mean score (20) for sexual functioning (Table 3).
To Association of variables and social support among female breast cancer patients Among the total study participants, 73(34.1%) of breast cancer patients were college graduated. It was found that participants who were college graduated were more likely to have good social support 3 times than those who were illiterate (AOR=3, 95%CI: 1.5, 5.9 COR=3.2). And from total participants, 85(39.7%) of them had monthly income more than 2000 ETB. It was found that participants who had high monthly income were more likely to have good social support by 5.39 times than those who had less monthly income (AOR=2.3, 95% CI: 1.2,8.5, COR= 5.39) ( Table S1).

Association of variables and quality of life among female breast cancer patients
Among the total study participants, 28(13.1%) of breast cancer patients were illiterate. It was found that participants who were illiterate were more likely to have affected QoL by 3 times than those who were more educated (AOR=3, 95%CI: 1.3,6.9, COR=4.8, p-value=0.008). Among the total study participants, 45(21%) of breast cancer patients had systematic therapy side effects. It was found that participants who had systematic therapy side effects were more likely to have affected QoL by 3.8 times than who had no systemic therapy side effect (AOR=3.8, 95%CI: 1.1,13, COR=4, p-value=0.035). Among the total participants, 45(21%) of the breast cancer patients had an appetite loss problem. It was found that participants who had a problem of appetite loss were more likely to have affected QoL by 3.5 times than those who had no problem of appetite loss (AOR=3.5, 95%CI: 1.02,12COR=4, p-value= 0.047) (Table S2).

Discussion
This study assessed social support and QoL among female breast cancer patients at TASH. The overall social support mean score was about 44.17 in the current study. This study nding is lower than the study done in Nepal, which showed that the mean score was 85.03 (19). The difference might be due to the socioeconomic difference, educational status of and the awareness level of the participants.
The average global health status score of study participants' in this study was about 83.6. This result is consistent with the study done in Nepal which was (82.08) (19). This similarity might be due to the study design and similarityof tools used. However, the current nding is high compared to the study done in Addis Ababa that was (52.5)(17), EORTC reference mean score was (61.8 ± 24.6)(20) and in South India mean score was (77.93) (21). This difference might be due to the stage of diseases, type of treatment and time difference since diagnosis.
In this study, the role functioning was the lowest (23.8 ± 32.80) and the highest was observed in social functioning (75.5 ± 26). The nding is comparable to the study conducted in Ethiopia with a mean score of 74.1 ± 28.5 (17). The similarity might be due to the study design, study tool, similarity of study participants and study settings. But, the nding is lower comparing with the EORTC reference value of mean score(77) (20) and study conducted in South India mean score(87.7 ± 24.6) (21). The difference might be due to educational level differences, study participant age difference, awareness about the disease's consequence and stage of the diseases.
In QLQ-BR23 functioning scales, the highest mean score (78 ± 33.6) was observed in a future perspective scale. The nding is comparable in the study done in Addis Ababa Ethiopia's mean score(82.1 ± 30.3)(17).
Whereas, the nding is greater than the study conducted in South India's mean score was (72.62 ± 33.81) (21). The difference might be due to participants' obtained psychological and social support through informal ways such as family and in a religious institution.
In the QLQ-C30 symptom scales, a higher mean score (67. 8 ± 22.8) was observed in pain. The nding was greater than the study conducted in South India with the mean score of(19.6 ± 26.64) (21), Ethiopia with the mean score of (46.0 ± 31.9)(17) and the EORTC reference value mean score (28.7 ± 28.7) (20). This difference might be due to the availability of anti-pain, the use of ani-pain properly, awareness about the importance of anti-pain medication and their side effect. In QLQ-BR23 symptom scales highest mean score (55.9 ± 17.7) was observed in systematic therapy side effects. This nding is greater than the study done in South India mean score (13.04 ± 11.93) (21) and in Addis Ababa Ethiopia mean score (34.6 ± 29.7)(17).
This alteration might be due to the type of treatment, stage of the diseases.
Participants who were college graduated were about 3 times more likely to have good social support than those who were illiterate. This is in agreement with the study done in Italy and in New York (5,22). This similarity might be due to awareness about the importance of social support. Study participants who were illiterate were nearly 3 times more likely to have affected QoL than those who were educated. This nding is supported with a study conducted in Shanghai, China (22)  High monthly income in the current study was more likely to have brought a good quality of life. This nding is in agreement with the study done in Shanghai, China (22) high monthly income associated with good quality of life and study done in Addis Ababa (17) those who have reported that they didn't have income, less likely to have a good (unaffected) quality of life. This similarity might be due to can get necessary medication, food, self-care materials and can afford necessary things.
Those who were classi ed as having affected emotional functioning and role functioning in functional scales were 2.3 times more likely to have affected QoL. This nding was comparable with the study done in Addis Ababa participants who were classi ed as having unaffected emotional and cognitive functioning were about 2 times more likely to have good QOL (17). This similarity might be due to the similarity of the study design, study tool and study setting area.
Participants who were having a problem of fatigue, nausea and vomiting, appetite loss and nancial di culty in this study were more likely to have affected QoL. Whereas, the study conducted in Ethiopia (17) those who were having fatigue were less likely to have unaffected QoL and those who have no problem with nausea and vomiting, appetite loss and nancial di culties were more likely to have unaffected QoL.
This similarity might be due to the stage of the diseases, type of treatment and availability of treatment.
Participants who had poor levels of social support were 2.8 times more likely to have affected the quality of life in the current study. This is supported by the study done in California (8,23) greater social support was related to good QOL after a diagnosis of breast cancer and a study done in Turk (24) good social support is the best predictor of quality of life in breast cancer. This similarity might be due to the fact that social support might help to improve the quality of life among patients.
Based on the nding of this study, above half of the total respondents had diverse social networks, the majority of them had good social support and very few of them had not affected quality of life. Education, and monthly income were signi cantly associated with social support. Education, monthly income, emotional functioning, role functioning, pain, fatigue, nancial di culty, systemic therapy side effect, and social support were signi cantly associated with QoL.
Limitation of the study It hinders the possibilities of assessing for cause and effect associations, the design limits the progressive investigation of social support and quality of life improvements following a series of intervention strategies and it is also possibly subjected to social desirability bias as the study outcome is self-reported.

Recommendations
Healthcare providers improve social support which may help to improve the quality of life of women with breast cancer and should teach the patients, attendants and other stakeholders about social support to improve the outcome of a disease.