Journal article
Psychosocial problems and needs of posttreatment patients with breast cancer and their relatives.
- Schmid-Büchi S Nursing Department, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. silvia.schmid@bluewin.ch
- Halfens RJ
- Dassen T
- van den Borne B
- 2010-01-22
Published in:
- European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society. - 2011
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anxiety
Breast Neoplasms
Cost of Illness
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression
Family
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Needs Assessment
Professional-Family Relations
Risk Factors
Social Support
Stress, Psychological
Switzerland
English
PURPOSE
The study assessed and compared the psychosocial needs of patients with breast cancer and of their relatives, the patients' and relatives' burden of illness, anxiety, depression and distress and assessed the patients' cancer treatment-related symptoms and identified relevant factors influencing patients' and relatives' needs.
METHOD
Seventy-two patients (n=72) participated with a relative in a cross-sectional mail-survey, 1-22 months after cancer treatment.
RESULTS
The patients reported needing help with psychological and sexual issues. They suffered from treatment-related symptoms. More treatment-related symptoms and depression were related to the patients' needs for supportive care. Their relatives' needs primarily concerned access to information and communication with health care professionals. Relatives had higher levels of anxiety (25.0% vs. 22.2%), depression (12.5% vs. 8.3%) and distress (40% vs. 34%) than patients. Higher levels of depression, younger age and having a disease themselves were associated with relatives' need for help.
CONCLUSION
Patients' and relatives' substantial needs and psychological problems require professional support even after completion of the patients' treatment. Continued assessment of the patients' and their relatives' needs and of the patients' symptoms provide the basis for purposeful counselling and education. Rehabilitation programs for patients and their relatives should be developed and implemented in clinical practice.
The study assessed and compared the psychosocial needs of patients with breast cancer and of their relatives, the patients' and relatives' burden of illness, anxiety, depression and distress and assessed the patients' cancer treatment-related symptoms and identified relevant factors influencing patients' and relatives' needs.
METHOD
Seventy-two patients (n=72) participated with a relative in a cross-sectional mail-survey, 1-22 months after cancer treatment.
RESULTS
The patients reported needing help with psychological and sexual issues. They suffered from treatment-related symptoms. More treatment-related symptoms and depression were related to the patients' needs for supportive care. Their relatives' needs primarily concerned access to information and communication with health care professionals. Relatives had higher levels of anxiety (25.0% vs. 22.2%), depression (12.5% vs. 8.3%) and distress (40% vs. 34%) than patients. Higher levels of depression, younger age and having a disease themselves were associated with relatives' need for help.
CONCLUSION
Patients' and relatives' substantial needs and psychological problems require professional support even after completion of the patients' treatment. Continued assessment of the patients' and their relatives' needs and of the patients' symptoms provide the basis for purposeful counselling and education. Rehabilitation programs for patients and their relatives should be developed and implemented in clinical practice.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1016/j.ejon.2009.11.001
- PMID 20089447
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/14449
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