Illness perception and sense of well-being in breast cancer patients

Yaelim Lee,1 Jong-Min Baek,2 Ye-Won Jeon,3 Eun-Ok Im4 1Department of Nursing, Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 2Department of Surgery, Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 3Department of Surgery, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; 4Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, NC, USACorrespondence: Yaelim LeeDepartment of Nursing, Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaTel +82 10 9950 2731Email ylcaregiver@gmail.comPurpose: The objective of the study was to explore breast cancer patients’ illness perception, its relationship to perceived sense of well-being, and the role of perceived social support.Methods: Women with diagnosed breast cancer were recruited from the two university hospitals in South Korea between January and April 2018. The questionnaires included the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised (IPQ-R) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Breast cancer (FACT-B). A total of 321 participants’ data was analyzed using descriptive analyses, multiple regression, and structural equation modeling.Results: Negative illness perception was greater in participants currently receiving chemotherapy (p=0.044) or had received chemotherapy in the past (p=0.006). Positive illness perception was lower in older participants (p=0.001) or those who had received chemotherapy (p=0.018). Negative illness perception had a direct effect on a low sense of well-being (p