Psychosocial problems and needs of posttreatment patients with breast cancer and their relatives

• Published in: European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society 2011-07, Vol.15 (3), p.260-266
• Main Authors: Schmid-Büchi, Silvia, Halfens, Ruud J.G, Dassen, Theo, van den Borne, Bart
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Access to information; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety-Depression; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Cancer; Cost of Illness; Couple; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Depression - epidemiology; Distress; Family; Family - psychology; Female; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Need; Needs Assessment; Nursing; Professional-Family Relations; Psychological distress; Psychosocial; Rehabilitation; Relative; Risk Factors; Social Support; Stress, Psychological - epidemiology; Switzerland - epidemiology; Symptoms
• ISSN: 1462-3889; 1532-2122
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2009.11.001

Abstract 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.