Quality of Life in African American Breast Cancer Survivors: An Integrative Literature Review.

Abstract

The quality of life (QOL) of African American (AA) breast cancer survivors (BCSs) is poorer than that of non-Hispanic white BCSs. It is necessary to address factors related to poor QOL of AA women entering survivorship. Research addressing QOL in AA BCSs is inconsistent in measurements and methods. The objective of this study was to synthesize factors contributing to QOL in AA breast cancer survivorship utilizing the model of Ferrell et al (1995). Research question was: Which factors are used in studies of QOL in AA breast cancer survivorship? This integrative literature review included studies exploring some aspect of QOL in AA BCSs. Studies were excluded that validated psychometric measures, did not report QOL, or did not explore AAs and/or BCSs as a separate group within the study. The search strategy yielded 240 references; 38 were retrieved, read, and rated for relevance and research quality. A set of 19 articles met relevance criteria. The review showed a lack of research exploring factors affecting spiritual and physical well-being domains, demonstrating a need for future research. In addition, the lack of community-based studies signals a need for community engagement in the research process, starting with spiritual leaders. Researchers must focus on factors from a multidomain perspective to truly understand the varied dimensions influencing QOL of AA BCSs.