Baseline Quality of Life and Its Predictors among Jordanian Women with Breast Cancer: Findings from an Ongoing Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Jordan. Survivors often experience impaired quality of life (QoL) due to various sociodemographic and clinical factors. Understanding QoL at the time of diagnosis is essential for developing effective interventions. This study aimed to assess baseline QoL and to identify predictors of QoL among Jordanian women with breast cancer prior to any intervention. This cross-sectional analysis examined baseline data from an ongoing randomized controlled trial registered with Australian New Zealand clinical trials registry. Two hundred women with breast cancer completed the Arabic versions of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 questionnaires at study entry, prior to randomization and intervention. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of QoL. The mean age of participants was 48.0±8.3 years. The global QoL score was 57.4/100. Higher scores were observed for role and social functioning, whereas emotional functioning had the lowest scores. The most frequently reported symptoms were insomnia, fatigue, and pain multivariate linear regression identified younger age (positively associated) and total breast symptoms (negatively associated) as significant independent predictors of QLQ-C30 global QoL. For QLQ-BR23, the overall model was significant, although no individual predictor reached statistical significance. Jordanian women with breast cancer experience moderate impairment in QoL at study entry, primarily influenced by symptom burden and age. These baseline findings provide a foundation for interpreting intervention effects in the ongoing randomized controlled trial. Routine assessment of symptoms and culturally sensitive supportive care are recommended to improve patient outcomes.