Iranian Journal of

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Evaluation of Socio-economic Status and its Impact on coping Behavior of Patients with Breast Cancer

Maryam Koosha: Prevention of Breast Cancer Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

Shahpar Haghighat: Quality of life Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

Roza Karampoor: Sociology Departman, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Alieh Shekarbeygi: Assistant professor, Sociology Departman, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Alireza Bahrami: Prevention of Breast Cancer Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

Hoda Tafazzoli-Harandi: Prevention of Breast Cancer Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

Amir Lalegani: General Psychology, University of Mazandaran, Tehran, Iran

Corresponding Author: shahpar haghighat, sha_haghighat@yahoo.com

              

Abstract

Introduction: Socio-economic status has been considered as an important factor that affects health related behaviors. According to recent studies, patients show different coping strategies against their disease based on their socio-economic status; so this study was designed to evaluate the effect of this factor on the coping behavior of patients with breast cancer.

Methods: This study was performed on 100 breast cancer patients referred to the Clinic of Iranian Center for Breast Cancer for further follow-ups. Demographic characteristics of patients were recorded and their coping behaviors were assessed by CWQ-R questionnaire. The socio-economic status was identified according to their educational and occupational status, family income and place of residency.  The patients were divided into three categories (high, medium and low) with respect to their socio–economic status .Statistical correlations of coping behavior with socio-economic status were analyzed by SPSS 14 software using Anova and Kruskal-Wallis tests and by using univariate and multivariate regression analysis.

Results: The mean age of patients was 44.1 ± 9.5 years (23-75). In terms of socio-economic status, 20%, 66% and 14% of the participants belonged to the high, medium and low categories respectively. Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant correlation between  socio-economic status and coping behavior of patients in people with high social-economy ststus was the better and this relation was significant (p-value = 0.000). Between socio-economic status and coping ways behaviore strategies, only with avoid coping Strategy did not have significant relation (p-value = 0.138) and in the other strategies, was a significant relationship. Also regression analysis showed a significant relationship between the factor of having two or more children (as one of the demographic factors) univariate and multivariate both on patients coping behavior (p-value = 0.002).

Conclusion: The results indicated that patients with higher socio –economic status got higher coping score. In other words, their intellectual, emotional and behavioral efforts when face stressful situations were more. This can confirm the importance of psychological support and counseling in breast cancer patients with lower socio-economic status.

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Simulation of Lymph Drainage Pump System

Khalili Shirin: Medical Engineering Department, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

Ghalehbaghi Suzan: Medical Engineering Department, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

Haghighat Shahpar: Cancer Quality of Life Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

Corresponding Author: Suzan Ghalehbaghi, suzanmanag@yahoo.com

                                                           

Abstract                        

Introduction: Lymphatic system, as a part of body immunesystem, is comprised of tissuesand vessels conducting unidirectionallya clear liquid called lymph fluid from interstitial matrix to the blood circulation. If the lymphatic system fails to drain out the lymph fluid it will be accumulated in the matrix causing an inflammation called “Lymphatic Edema”. There exist various methods to control the edema, yet none has provided a thorough treatment to subside the inflammation. This paper aims to propose a new computerized method by simulating the lymph drainage pump system while utilizing two computerized engineering software.

Methods: In the first software (called proteus) a lymph drainage pump system is programed with proper schematic chips design and a constant speed for the pump. In the second software (Matlab) a stimulating DC motor was used to control an artificial neurological network for particular volume and pressure of lymph fluid. Biological data for this research were collected from a lymph edema clinic in Tehran (seyed khandan physiotherapy institute).Each individual patient’s data is retrieved and calculated by the software.

Results: The lymph fluid effects due to pressure, volume, speed and height changes were figured in to determine a constant speed and pressure for the motor. Also the simulation system was designed to function with the external varying temperature as a variable input. Based on the simulated motor pump output, the estimated results by neurological network and application of the regression method the study has resulted in a coefficient R=1.This result indicates that the neurological network has possessed the proper estimation.

Conclusion: considering the heights ,volumes and pressures of lymph fluids along with the natural lymph drainage system while utilizing neurological network package we may claim that we have surpassed the transition for artificial drainage pump design from the scientific concept and mathematical stage to that of simulation criteria. Once this system is undergone practical design process, further theoretical and clinical researches are required to make the system engineering feasible for ensuing biological applications.

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Introduction: Breast cancer and the type of treatment in these women can affect their sexual function and intimacy. Unsuccessful sexual interaction is one of the factors that lead to low sexual self-esteem. This research aimed at studying the efficacy of four-factor psychotherapy (therapeutic relationship, expectancy to therapy, increasing awareness and behavior regulation) on increasing sexual self-esteem and its five subscales (skill, attractiveness, control, moral judgment and adaptiveness) in breast cancer survivors.

Methods: A semi-experimental study was conducted with pre-test/post-test control group design and 2/5 months follow up. The research population included married breast cancer survivors who referred to Shohada-e Tajrish hospital in 2015. The research samples involved 30 survivors who selected available and randomly assigned into two groups of 15, a control group and an experimental group. The research instruments included sexual self-esteem inventory for women (SSEI-W) (1996) that administered to both groups as pre-test, post-test and follow-up. Four-factor psychotherapy program performed in experimental group for
10-weekly 90 minute sessions and data was analyzed using analysis of covariance.

Results: four-factor psychotherapy led to significant effect on increasing women sexual
self- esteem and control and moral judgment subscales and this significance remained unchanged to the 2/5 months follow-up about control and moral judgment.

Conclusion: four-factor psychotherapy is effective on increasing sexual self-esteem and its two subscales (control and moral judgment) on breast cancer survivors.

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Introduction: Exercise is one of the most important elements of health management in breast cancer patients. The aim of present study was to review the lipid-lowering effects of Pilates training in women with breast cancer.
Methods: Twenty-four women with breast cancer who were treated in the health centers and private clinics of Shiraz city, Iran were selected and divided into training and control groups. Training group was trained using selected Pilates training sessions for 10 weeks, three sessions per week and 60 minutes per session. During this period, the control group did only their routine daily activities. Before and after training period, blood samples were taken from the subjects. Data were analyzed using K-S, and dependent and independent t-tests (p ≤ 0.05).
Results: Ten week pilates training had a significant effect on reduction of TG from 125.91 ± 48.35 mg/dl to 103.91 ± 39.07 mg/dl (p = 0.001) and TC from 191.83 ± 17.79 to 176.08 ± 14.18 mg/ dl (p = 0.005) in women with breast cancer, but it had no significant effect on reduction of LDL (p = 0.42) or an increase of HDL (p = 0.26).
Conclusion: It appears that 10-week Pilates training have lipid-lowering effects in women with breast cancer.
 

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