College of Public Health and Human Sciences

PURPOSE: To examine predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Hispanic and non-Hispanic White (NHW) breast cancer (BC) survivors.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using survey data.

PARTICIPANTS: Women diagnosed with BC at ages 21-79 years, between 2012-2014, recruited from the New Jersey State Cancer Registry.

METHODS: HRQoL was assessed using the Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy (FACT-G) instrument. Descriptive statistics compared Hispanics and NHWs, and multivariate regression analyses identified predictors of HRQoL.

RESULTS: HRQoL was significantly higher scores among NHW (85.7 ± 18.5) than Hispanics (79.4 ± 20.1) (p < 0.05). In multivariate analyses, comorbidities (β: -13.3, 95%CI: -20.6, -5.92), late-stage diagnosis (β: -5.67, 95%CI: -10.7, -0.62), lower income (β: -13.9, 95%CI: -19.8, -7.97) and younger age at diagnosis were associated with lower HRQoL.

CONCLUSION: Socio-demographic and clinic characteristics were significant predictors of HRQoL among diverse BC survivors.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PSYCHOSOCIAL ONCOLOGY: Supportive psychosocial care interventions tailored to the needs of young, low-income BC survivors with comorbidities are needed.