Association Between Fear of Cancer Recurrence, Fatigue, and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among Breast Cancer Survivors in South Korea.

Abstract

Improving healthy lifestyle behaviors in breast cancer survivors can promote their physical and mental health, thereby reducing the risk of cancer recurrence. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and control the factors affecting healthy lifestyle behaviors among breast cancer survivors. This study aimed to examine the effects of physiological, psychological, and situational factors and symptoms on healthy lifestyle behaviors in breast cancer survivors. Data were collected from August to September 2021, and a questionnaire was administered through an online breast cancer patient community's bulletin board. Finally, 162 questionnaires were included in the analysis. The model was statistically significant, explaining 33.2% of the variance. A decrease in healthy lifestyle behaviors in breast cancer survivors was influenced by an age of 40 years or younger, 5 years or more since a breast cancer diagnosis, low income, fear of cancer recurrence, and fatigue. Intervention strategies, such as easily accessible online content that accounts for age and survival period after cancer diagnosis, should be used to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors among breast cancer survivors. Healthcare providers should be given appropriate guidelines on managing patients' fear of cancer recurrence and reducing fatigue to ensure timely access to clinical interventions. Adequate financial support from local communities and governments is needed to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors. To improve breast cancer survivors' healthy lifestyle behaviors, an understanding of the influencing factors and a multidimensional approach are required. Nurses play a role in developing and implementing interventions to improve healthy lifestyle behaviors.