Effect of illness perception on predicting breast cancer-related lymphedema risk management behaviours among breast cancer patients: A comparison between dimensions and profiles

AimThis study aimed to explore the utility of latent profile analysis of illness perception, in comparison to treating illness perception as several dimensions, to predict breast cancer-related lymphedema risk management behaviours among Chinese breast cancer patients. MethodsThis is a 3-month longitudinal study. From August 2019 to January 2021, patients who recently underwent breast cancer surgery including axillary lymphadenectomy were recruited. Illness perception and risk management behaviours were measured by breast cancer-related lymphedema specific questionnaires before discharge following surgery (n = 268) and at 3 months postsurgery (n = 213), respectively. ResultsTreating illness perception as several dimensions, 'illness coherence' and 'timeline (cyclical)' dimensions were found to be significantly associated with breast cancer-related lymphedema risk management behaviours. Using the latent profile analysis, two illness perception profiles were identified and significant differences were revealed in breast cancer-related lymphedema risk management behaviours between them. Overall, illness perception profiles explained smaller amounts of variability in breast cancer-related lymphedema risk management behaviours than illness perception dimensions. ConclusionFuture studies could combine these two different perspectives of illness perception regarding breast cancer-related lymphedema into the design of interventions to improve breast cancer-related lymphedema risk management behaviours.