Coping Resources and Self-Rated Health Among Latina Breast Cancer Survivors

Purpose/Objectives: To examine relationships between coping resources and self-rated health among Latina breast cancer survivors.

Design: Cross-sectional telephone survey.

Setting: Four northern California counties.

Sample: 330 Latina breast cancer survivors within one to five years of diagnosis.

Methods: Telephone survey conducted by bilingual and bicultural interviewers.

Main Research Variables: Predictors were sociodemographic and clinical factors, cancer self-efficacy, spirituality, and social support from family, friends, and oncologists. Outcomes were functional limitations and self-rated health.

Findings: Twenty-two percent of women reported functional limitations (n = 73) and 27% reported poor or fair self-rated health (n = 89). Unemployment (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 7.06; 95% confidence interval [CI] [2.04, 24.46]), mastectomy (AOR = 2.67; 95% CI [1.06, 6.77]), and comorbidity (AOR = 4.09; 95% CI [1.69, 9.89]) were associated with higher risk of functional limitations; cancer self-efficacy had a protective effect (AOR = 0.4, 95% CI [0.18, 0.9]). Comorbidity was associated with higher risk of poor or fair self-rated health (AOR = 4.95; 95% CI [2.13, 11.47]); cancer self-efficacy had a protective effect (AOR = 0.3; 95% CI [0.13, 0.66]).

Conclusions: Comorbidities place Latina breast cancer survivors at increased risk for poor health. Cancer self-efficacy deserves more attention as a potentially modifiable protective factor.

Implications for Nursing: Nurses need to assess the impact of comorbidity on functioning and can reinforce patients' sense of control over cancer and clinician support.