Sociodemographic and clinical predictors of quality of life in women with breast cancer: Evidence from an oncology centre in Kirkuk, Iraq

Abstract

Objective: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in Iraq, raising concerns about their quality of life (QOL). As survival rates improve, understanding the sociodemographic and clinical factors affecting health related quality of life (HRQOL) becomes increasingly important. This study aims to explore the sociodemographic and clinical predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among women who have breast cancer attending the Oncology and Hematology Center in Kirkuk, Iraq.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2024 to May 2025. Samples of 340 women diagnosed with breast cancer and attending the oncology and hematology center in Kirkuk city were included. Data were collected using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) along with a structured questionnaire comprising two sections: sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. A simple descriptive analysis approach (frequency and percentage; means and standard deviations) and an inferential analysis approach (Kruskal-Wallis U test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient) were utilized to assess the significant disparities in women's HRQoL and their characteristics. 

Results: The mean HRQOL score was 75.4 ± 20.45, with 78.8% of participants reporting a moderate quality of life. Married women had significantly higher HRQOL scores (78.45, P = 0.001), while those with low socioeconomic status had significantly lower scores (67.74, P = 0.002). Participants in stages III and IV of cancer, and those undergoing treatment for less than a year, reported the lowest mean scores (65.69 ± 13.75). Among treatment modalities, hormonal t