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Quality of life pilot intervention for breast cancer patients: Use of social cognitive theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2003

KRISTI D. GRAVES, ,
CINDY L. CARTER, ,
EILEEN S. ANDERSON,  and
RICHARD A. WINETT
KRISTI D. GRAVES,
Affiliation:
Center for Research in Health Behavior, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
CINDY L. CARTER,
Affiliation:
Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charlestown, South Carolina
EILEEN S. ANDERSON,
Affiliation:
Center for Research in Health Behavior, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
RICHARD A. WINETT
Affiliation:
Center for Research in Health Behavior, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
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Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this article is to evaluate an 8-week pilot intervention based on Social Cognitive Theory to improve quality of life for women with breast cancer.

Methods: A total of 32 breast cancer patients were randomized to either the intervention or standard care. Outcome variables included quality of life, mood, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and self-regulation.

Results: Effect sizes were calculated to examine the impact of the intervention, with moderate to large effect sizes found for several subscales of the outcome expectations variable: learning about cancer and treatment (d = 0.85), having a positive attitude (d = 0.54), talking about cancer (d = 1.02), engaging in relaxation (d = 0.62), and setting goals (d = 1.58).

Significance of results: A nonparametric sign test was conducted, indicating that women in the intervention condition either improved more or showed less decline than the women in standard care, p = .034, two-tailed. Implications and suggestions for the content and delivery of future psychosocial interventions with cancer patients are reviewed.

Keywords

Quality of lifeBreast cancerInterventionSocial cognitive theory
Type
Research Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 1 , Issue 2 , June 2003 , pp. 121 - 134
Copyright
© 2003 Cambridge University Press

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