The Effects of Psychosocial Interventions to Improve Stress and Coping in Patients with Breast Cancer.
10.4040/jkan.2006.36.1.169
- Author:
Cho Ja KIM
1
;
Hea Kung HUR
;
Duck Hee KANG
;
Bo Hwan KIM
Author Information
1. College of Nursing, Yonsei University.
- Publication Type:Original Article ; English Abstract
- Keywords:
Stress;
Coping;
Stress management
- MeSH:
Stress, Psychological/etiology/*therapy;
*Social Support;
Middle Aged;
Humans;
Female;
Breast Neoplasms/*psychology;
Adult;
*Adaptation, Psychological
- From:
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
2006;36(1):169-178
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine stress, coping, and immune response effects of a psychosocial intervention program based on the PNI model and Stress-Appraisal-Coping for Korean patients with breast cancer. METHODS: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The participants who had survived breast cancer and lived in Wonju city and the surrounding area were assigned to an intervention group (N=21) or a control group(N=18).We conducted a 12-week intervention, 2 hours a day weekly, and measured the variables at baseline, six and twelve weeks later. Dependent variables are: stress, anxiety-depression and anger, and immune response. RESULTS: Patients in the psychosocial intervention program reported significantly less stress perception (U=31.500, p=.023), more problem solving ability and less problem avoidance in coping (U=20.500, p= .013; U=29.500, p=.040), and less anxiety-depression (U=22.000, p=.023). No difference, however, was found in anger and immune responses between the two groups. Intervention effects were evident at week 6 and 12 for anxiety-depression, and at week 6 for problem avoidance in coping, the same time that NK cell counts and the T8 decreased. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested positive effects of a psychosocial intervention program. However, the results are inconclusive due to the small sample.
