Coping skills among African-American breast cancer survivors

Identifying personal health-related resources of women with breast cancer for nursing: An integrative review

Personal health-related resources are essential for women with breast cancer, as these help them to maintain their own health and well-being during different phases of their illness. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify, describe and synthetise what personal health-related resources have already been identified for this patient group. We carried out an integrative review to find papers that focused on personal health-related resources for women with breast cancer aged 18-64 years. The search covered 1 January 2005 to 31 May 2021 and was carried out using the CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases. It was limited to peer-reviewed scientific papers with abstracts published in English and 23 papers met the inclusion criteria. The data were analysed using content analysis. Personal health-related resources for women with breast cancer consisted of three different, but inherently interconnected, categories of personal strengths, person-centred cancer care and social support from and involvement in their cultural community. Personal health-related resources for women with breast cancer were multifaceted. Women need nursing support to identify and use these resources and future studies are needed to strengthen how they are measured.

The relationship between coping strategies and quality of life of patients with lung cancer in Turkey

Objectives: In this study, it is aimed to examine the coping strategies and quality of life of patients with lung cancer. In this context, the relationship between strategies for coping with lung cancer and the quality of life of patients is discussed. The effect of treatment duration on coping strategies and quality of life is also being examined. Methods: The cross-sectional design and the convenience sampling method were used in the study. WHOQOL-Bref (27 items) and Brief COPE (28 items) were used as scales. The data of this research was obtained from the patients diagnosed with lung cancer who receive services from Ankara University School of Medicine Department of Radiology and from Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Şefkat Residential Homes of Oncology (n=201). Results: Cancer is characterized as one of the most important diseases widely observed in today’s societies. In conclusion, there is a significant relationship between coping variables and quality of life. The findings illustrate that lung cancer patients who used both problem-focused and positive emotion-oriented coping strategies achieved a higher quality of life score in all domains. Conclusions: In general, the findings illustrate that lung cancer patients who used both problem-focused and positive emotion-oriented coping strategies achieved higher quality of life scores in all domains. Thus, the effective use of positive emotion-oriented coping strategies and problem-focused coping strategies are crucial. Moreover, age, income, and the duration of treatment affect both quality of life and coping strategies of lung cancer patients.

A qualitative exploration of the unmet information needs of Chinese advanced cancer patients and their informal caregivers

Background

Studies in the West have demonstrated that appropriate informational support is a vital component of cancer care, with positive effects on both patients and their informal caregivers. Since little is known about the information needs of advanced cancer patients and informal caregivers in China, where ‘silence as virtue’ is much more valued and the communication style is less open, this study was therefore conducted to elaborate the information needs of advanced cancer patients and informal caregivers as well as to explore their perceptions and experiences regarding their unmet information needs in the Chinese context.

Methods

This sub-study of a previous cross-sectional survey utilized a qualitative descriptive study design. The approach involved semi-structured interviews that followed an interview guide to collect data. Eligible participants were the advanced cancer patients and informal caregivers who had participated in the previous cross-sectional survey and reported unmet information needs. Each interview was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Descriptive content analysis was used to analyze the data.

Results

Seventeen advanced cancer patients and 15 informal caregivers with unmet information needs participated in the semi-structured interviews, with ages ranging from 32 to 63 years old for patients and from 32 to 70 for informal caregivers. Four categories were extracted from the interviews with the patients and caregivers: (1) types of unmet information needs; (2) reasons for information needs not being met; (3) preferences for the provision of information; and (4) meaning and role of information. Each category had two to four sub-categories for both the patients and the caregivers, which were similar but not completely the same.

Conclusion

The findings indicated that the provision of appropriate information could promote informed decision-making and greater satisfaction with treatment options, reductions in psychological disturbances, and enhanced confidence and ability in self-management and capacity in caregiving. Moreover, information on Traditional Chinese Medicine and food therapy should be increased, particularly for patients at the follow-up stage, while the amount of information on prognosis should be flexible as it could increase patients’ and caregivers’ psychological burden. Healthcare professionals were the most preferred information provider, although their heavy workload resulted in time constraints. In this case, they should provide information to patients and caregivers together as a ‘whole unit.’ At the same time, the value of separate conversations should also be recognized as some caregivers preferred to conceal unpleasant information from the patient.

Correlates of Adjuvant Therapy Attitudes in African American Breast Cancer Patients

PURPOSE

Black breast cancer patients delay and underutilize adjuvant breast cancer therapies; yet, very few studies have specifically examined Black women's attitudes toward breast cancer therapy. This study observed the influence of self-reported interpersonal processes of care (e.g. self-efficacy) clinical and sociodemographic factors and sociocultural (e.g. religiosity), related to Black breast cancer patients' attitudes toward radiation and systemic therapies (chemotherapy and adjuvant endocrine therapy - "AET").

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of data from the Narrowing Gaps in Adjuvant Therapy Study (2006-2011). The analysis included 210 Black women who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Bivariate and multiple regression analyses were performed between independent variables (e.g., demographics) and three outcome variables (chemotherapy, AET, and radiation therapy) to asses women's perceptions of therapy type. The lasso method was used to select variables correlated with therapy attitudes.

RESULTS

Most women reported negative attitudes toward AET (56%) and radiation (54%); fewer negative attitudes were observed toward chemotherapy (47%). Higher education and greater perceived susceptibility of a recurrence were associated with more positive attitudes toward chemotherapy. Regarding radiation therapy, women with greater patient satisfaction were more likely to have more positive attitudes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study findings may aid in the development of behavioral interventions targeted to mitigate Black women breast cancer treatment disparities. We found modifiable factors (e.g. communication, satisfaction ratings) that support opportunities for clinicians to better address Black women's needs regarding adjuvant treatment options. The development of tailored interventions for newly diagnosed Black breast cancer patients on patient related factors in health care are warranted for Black women with lower educational levels.

Making Breast Cancer (Black) History: Results of a Church-Based Primary Prevention Study

Breast cancer rates for African American women are lower than that of their White peers, yet their mortality rate is disproportionately higher. This study sought to address the disparity through a community-based primary prevention study targeting African American women in the Black church utilizing the public health model of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. The study centered on the meaningful intersection of race, gender, and faith as key factors in increasing breast health knowledge and breast cancer risk factors. The results reveal that African American women respond positively to intervention models centered on salient aspects of their identity.

Cancer survivorship care-planning: Practice, research, and policy implications for social work

Increasing numbers of cancer survivors are living longer than 5 years from their diagnosis date. This has resulted in a growing population of cancer survivors, expected to reach 19 million by 2024. Survivors frequently experience late effects caused by cancer and its treatment, reducing survivors' quality of life in multiple domains. Survivorship care-plans may aid the many physical, psychosocial, and financial needs that emerge posttreatment. However, the lack of reimbursement mechanisms, the limited amount of effectiveness research, and minimal guidelines for content and delivery are barriers to the widespread provision of survivorship care-plans. Challenges and opportunities for social work practice, research, and policy are identified and discussed.

Coping with breast cancer: Reflections from Chinese American, Korean American, and Mexican American women

OBJECTIVE

The present study identified and compared the coping strategies of Chinese American, Korean American, and Mexican American breast cancer survivors (BCS).

METHODS

Six focus groups were conducted with Chinese American (n = 21), Korean American (n = 11), and Mexican American (n = 9) BCS. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated for thematic content analysis of coping experiences and strategies.

RESULTS

Women reported the use of 8 coping strategies (religious/spiritual, benefit finding, fatalism, optimism, fighting spirit, information seeking, denial, and self-distraction). Among Chinese American BCS, benefit finding was the most referenced coping strategy, whereas religious/spiritual coping was most frequently reported among Korean American and Mexican American BCS. Denial and self-distraction were the least cited strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Survivors draw upon new found inner strength to successfully integrate their cancer experience into their lives. Coping models must consider the diversity of cancer survivors and the variability in coping strategies among cultural ethnic minority BCS.

Spiritual well-being and depressive symptoms among cancer survivors

PURPOSE

Depression is common among patients diagnosed with cancer and may be inversely associated with spiritual well-being. While numerous strategies are employed to manage and cope with illness, spiritual well-being has become increasingly important in cancer survivorship research. This study examined the association between spiritual well-being and depressive symptoms.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study utilized self-report data from 102 diverse cancer survivors recruited from peer-based cancer support groups in San Diego County. Depression was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) and spiritual well-being was measured with the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being (FACIT-Sp) comprised of two subscales (Meaning/Peace and Faith).

RESULTS

Hierarchal regression analysis indicated that Meaning/Peace significantly predicted depressive symptoms after adjusting for socio-demographics, cancer stage, time since diagnosis, and Faith (p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that Spiritual Well-Being is a valuable coping mechanism and that Meaning/Peace has a unique advantage over Faith in protecting cancer survivors from the effects of depression symptoms; therefore, turning to Faith as source of strength may improve psychological well-being during survivorship.

IMPLICATIONS

Future programs and healthcare providers should be cognizant of the influential role of spiritual well-being in depression symptoms in an effort to improve psychological well-being among cancer survivors.

A pilot randomized study of skills training for African American cancer survivors

This study tested the efficacy of a psychosocial group intervention for African American breast cancer survivors based on the Cancer Survival Toolbox with the specific aim of decreasing distress and improving aspects of psychosocial functioning and quality of life. This pilot study utilized a randomized, repeated measures, experimental design. The study sample (N = 71) consisted of an intervention group (n = 23) of cancer survival skills training for 6 weeks and a control group (n = 48). The study could not confirm that cancer skills training in a psychoeducational group setting had a positive effect on decreasing stress or improving aspects of psychosocial functioning and quality of life.