Quality of sexual life and associated factors: a cross-sectional survey of Chinese breast cancer patients

PurposeThis study aimed to explore Chinese breast cancer patients' quality of sexual life (QSL) and factors associated with QSL.MethodsThe questionnaires in this cross-sectional study include the general information questionnaire, cognition and assessment of sexual health questionnaire, Self-acceptance Questionnaire (SAQ), Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ), and Quality of Sexual Life Questionnaire (QSLQ); 201 breast cancer patients were required to complete the questionnaires assessing characteristic information, cognition and assessment of sexual health, QSL, self-acceptance, and coping style. Finally, hierarchical regression was used to analyze the factors associated with QSL in Chinese breast cancer patients.ResultsThe mean age (at the time of the survey) of the breast cancer patients was 48.31 +/- 9.15. The mean score of the QSLQ (range 28-140) was 75.14 +/- 16.57. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that the associated factors of breast cancer patients' QSL included age (at the time of the survey), education level, type of surgery, cognition and assessment of sexual health, self-acceptance, and avoidance and acceptance-resignation coping styles, that independent variables explained 60.4% of the variance.ConclusionThe QSL among Chinese breast cancer patients needs to be improved. Our findings indicated that breast cancer patients with older age, lower education level, or modified radical mastectomy have poor QSL. Breast cancer patients learn correct information about sexual health, enhance self-acceptance, and reduce acceptance-resignation, and avoidance coping could be intervention strategies to improve their QSL.