Investigation on postoperative lymphedema-related knowledge, risk factors and behaviors of breast cancer patients

Objective To investigate the postoperative lymphedema-related knowledge, risk factors and behaviors of patients with breast cancer and analyze the impact of health guidance in clinic. Methods According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 169 breast cancer patients who underwent surgery in the Department of Breast Surgery, People’s Hospital of Peking University from April to August 2017 were enrolled for a retrospective study. They were divided into two groups: group A (n=85) in which all patients received health guidance related to postoperative lymphedema and group B (n=84) in which all patients received no health guidance. The related questionnaires were delivered to evaluate the lymphedema-related knowledge, risk factors and behaviors of breast cancer patients. The data with normal distribution were expressed as ±s and the data with skewed distribution were expressed as M(P25-P75). The scores in the three questionnaires were compared between two groups using t test of two independent samples and rank sum test. The rate comparison was performed by χ2 test and Fisher exact test. Results The score in lymphedema related knowledge questionnaire was 15±3 in group A, significantly higher than 13±3 in group B (t=6.169, P=0.014). The score in risk factor evaluation was 1(0-3) in group A and 2(1-5) in group B, indicating a significant difference between two groups (Z=1.514, P=0.020). The score in risk behavior evaluation was 17(16-18) in group A, 17(16-18) in group B, suggesting no significant difference between two groups (Z=0.438, P=0.991). The score in protective behaviors and total score in group A were significantly higher than those in group B [3(3-5) vs 3(1-4), Z=1.795, P=0.003; 20(19-22) vs 19(18-21), Z=1.645, P=0.009]. Conclusions Lymphedema-related health guidance can increase patients’ knowledge on postoperative lymphedema, reduce the relevant risk factors and improve their daily behaviors. It is necessary to promote health education concerning to lymphedema in breast cancer patients after surgery in clinical nursing. Key words: Breast neoplasms; Lymphedema; Health education; Knowledge; Risk factors; Behavior