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Health behavior change among breast cancer patients

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives

Changes in health behavior among women with breast cancer with respect to food intake, exercise and smoking habits are considered. We aimed to analyze (1) significant modifications of these behaviors about a year after breast cancer surgery and (2) the impact of social, medical and behavioral patient characteristics on these changes.

Methods

Data were derived from a longitudinal study of 229 women (age < 70) in Germany with a first manifestation of breast cancer. Food intake, physical activity and smoking were assessed by means of personal interviews immediately after surgery (T0) and 14 months later (T1).

Results

The intake of fruits and vegetables and physical exercise increased significantly over the observation period. Socio-demographic and medical parameters were largely irrelevant for behavioral changes while smoking status turned out as most important for changes in daily fruit consumption.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate that breast cancer patients change their lifestyle habits in a significant way even without intervention. Patients who smoke are in particular need of professional support to implement health-promoting behavior, and intervention should especially focus on this group.

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Acknowledgments

This paper is based on a project supported by the German Research Association (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) under grant numbers GE1167/1-1 and GE1167/1-2. We also thank the breast cancer patients for having consented to participate over a long time. The continuous support of the three cooperating clinics (Gynaecological clinic of the Hannover Medical School, Clinics of the Henrietten Foundation and the Nordstadt Clinic, City of Hannover) is acknowledged with great thanks.

Conflict of interest

None declared.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg- Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany

    Lisa Steinhilper, Siegfried Geyer & Stefanie Sperlich

Authors
  1. Lisa Steinhilper
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  2. Siegfried Geyer
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  3. Stefanie Sperlich
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Correspondence to Stefanie Sperlich.

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Steinhilper, L., Geyer, S. & Sperlich, S. Health behavior change among breast cancer patients. Int J Public Health 58, 603–613 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-013-0444-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-013-0444-7

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