The researchers conducted telephone interviews on a sample of 660 women with breast cancer from four geographic regions of the country at three and six months intervals. Motivation and life outlook was assessed using GoB questions. Women with GoB scores ?‰?50 (representing higher motivation) at baseline were statistically significantly more likely at 6 months to have good health-related quality of life, good self-perceived health and report regular exercise than those with scores <50, indicating good predictive ability.

"The ability to identify patients with low motivation establishes an opportunity for health care providers to develop and implement interventions to improve older adults' motivation and to help them attain and maintain a higher quality of health and life. The GoB may help target adequate interventions to bolster motivation and thus improve health behaviors and outcomes in older adults," added Clough-Gorr.

Source: Boston University Medical Center