# Perceived Quality-of-Life Importance Among Saudi Gynecologic Cancer Survivors: Latent Class Analysis

## TL;DR

This study identifies different quality-of-life priorities among Saudi gynecologic cancer survivors, showing how personal and cultural factors influence these priorities.

## Contribution

The study uses latent class analysis to reveal distinct subgroups of survivors based on their perceived importance of life domains in Saudi Arabia.

## Key findings

- Three distinct groups of survivors were identified based on their quality-of-life priorities.
- Personal and cultural factors like age, family size, and education strongly influence these priorities.
- Tailored healthcare interventions are needed to reflect survivors' diverse values in Saudi Arabia.

## Abstract

This study looked at what matters most to women in Saudi Arabia who have survived gynecologic cancers such as breast or cervical cancer. The researchers asked 129 women to rate how important different aspects of life are to them after treatment—especially their emotional well-being, relationships, and sexual health. The women were grouped based on their answers. Some valued all aspects highly, while others focused more on emotional or relationship needs and less on sexual health. These priorities were influenced more by personal and cultural factors—like age, family size, and education—than by their medical history. Understanding what survivors care about most can help healthcare providers design better, more personalized support services. The findings can guide future research and healthcare policies to better match women’s real-life needs during cancer recovery in culturally sensitive ways.

Quality-of-life (QoL) needs among gynecologic cancer survivors are multifaceted and culturally mediated, yet limited research has examined how survivors in the Middle East prioritize key domains such as sexual function, emotional well-being, and relational quality. This study aimed to identify subgroups of survivors based on the perceived importance of these domains and to explore demographic and clinical predictors of subgroups within the Saudi Arabian context. We conducted a cross-sectional, survey-based study among 129 women with a history of breast or cervical cancer attending a tertiary oncology center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Participants rated the importance of sexual, emotional, and relational QoL domains using a 4-point Likert scale. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to segment survivors based on their perceived domain importance. Differences in demographic and clinical characteristics across classes were assessed using chi-square tests. A decision tree classifier was employed. Three latent classes emerged: Class 0 (48.8%) prioritized all domains highly; Class 1 (17.8%) reported low importance across domains; and Class 2 (33.3%) emphasized emotional and relational domains while downplaying sexual function. Class group was significantly associated with age (p = 0.001), education (p = 0.04), nationality (p = 0.03), and number of children (p < 0.001). Decision tree analysis identified number of children, age, and marital status as the strongest predictors of high-importance class group. Gynecologic cancer survivors in Saudi Arabia hold diverse priorities regarding QoL domains, primarily shaped by sociocultural context than clinical variables. Tailored survivorship interventions that reflect survivors’ lived values, particularly in relation to age, family structure, and cultural norms, are critical for person-centered oncology care in the region.