The role of the breast clinic nurse

The sequelae of anxiety in breast cancer: a human response to illness model

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES

To provide a critical review of the empirical literature on anxiety in women with breast cancer using the physiologic, pathophysiologic, behavior, and experiential perspectives of the Human Response to Illness (HRTI) Model.

DATA SOURCES

Research articles, clinical articles, and Internet sources on breast cancer and anxiety. Literature sources included CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycINFO, incorporating English language reports through March 2009.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Patients with breast cancer experience fluctuating levels of anxiety throughout their diagnosis and treatment trajectory. Anxiety may influence an individual's response to treatment, treatment decision making, and overall quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Research consistently demonstrates that anxiety in patients with breast cancer can have a negative effect on patient outcomes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

The insight gained from exploring anxiety within the context of the four interrelated perspectives of the HRTI model fosters the provision of optimal care for patients suffering with anxiety throughout their breast cancer illness trajectory.

Women's experience with breast biopsy

The purpose of this study was to obtain descriptions of the perioperative experiences of women who underwent breast biopsies with local anesthesia. Twenty-two participants were interviewed, and open-ended questions were used to allow the women to describe their experiences. Data analysis revealed three major themes--certitude, care, and justice. The women's most pervasive need was to have the biopsy results as soon as possible. They viewed the surgical phase of the biopsy as a stepping-stone to achieving certitude associated with having the pathology results. The surgical phase of the biopsy did not hold as much significance for the women as the researcher had anticipated.

Percutaneous core biopsy of the breast: correlates of anxiety

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

The authors performed this study to investigate the level of patient anxiety immediately preceding breast biopsy and examined potential clinical and demographic correlates of anxiety.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The authors evaluated 102 women who were referred to a radiology breast clinic to undergo breast biopsy. The women were assessed with a self-report of demographic and medical items and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) immediately before their biopsy. The STAI also was administered at 1 and 5 days after biopsy.

RESULTS

The participants' mean state anxiety T score as measured with the State Trait Anxiety Inventory was 71.1 (standard deviation, 7.2). Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the correlates of state anxiety. The variables that showed the strongest correlation with state anxiety were trait anxiety, being concerned about the results of biopsy, education (less education was associated with more anxiety), age (an older age was associated with more anxiety), and number of relatives with breast cancer. Given the expected overlap (r = 0.55) between state and trait anxiety, a second regression analysis was performed that controlled for trait anxiety. The results of this analysis also identified age, being concerned about the results of the biopsy. and number of relatives with breast cancer as relevant correlates of state anxiety.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the results give some indication of the characteristics of women likely to be most anxious before biopsy. Future research should assess the effectiveness of different strategies for addressing situational anxiety.

The use of between-methods triangulation in cancer nursing research: a case study examining information sources for partners of women with breast cancer

This article describes between-methods triangulation-the combination of research strategies using different methods--and illustrates its use in cancer nursing research by outlining a case study, which identified the information sources for partners of women with breast cancer. By combining both qualitative and quantitative data, the study was found to possess good convergent validity. Between-methods triangulation also provided a more complete picture of the topic of inquiry than that supplied by either method alone. It is a useful strategy for identifying the information sources for partners of women with breast cancer and its use is encouraged in cancer nursing research.

A multidisciplinary approach to breast biopsy

The explosion in technological advances has provided physicians and patients more options in the diagnostic breast biopsy arena. Successful collaborative relationships between nurses, physicians, and all health care workers and detailed patient education are essential to provide optimum patient care. Survival in health care today mandates that perioperative nurses and their colleagues move outside traditional environments to provide quality, cost-effective care to patients and their family members. The aim of this collaborative approach to breast biopsy is to provide patients with the most expedient, accurate, cost-effective diagnoses with the least amount of physical and psychological trauma.