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Breast cancer meanings: a cognitive-developmental study
Luzia Travado1, Joaquim C Reis
1Psycho-Oncology Unit, Champalimaud Cancer Center, Lisbon, Portugal. luzia.travado@fundacaochampalimaud.pt
Psycho-Oncology
|February 19, 2013
Summary
Women with breast cancer develop distinct meanings for their illness, often focusing on external causes and emotional consequences. These meanings can be classified developmentally, aiding clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Breast cancer significantly impacts women's lives, necessitating an understanding of their illness perceptions.
- Cognitive-developmental frameworks offer insights into how individuals process and make meaning of serious health conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the content of women's meanings regarding breast cancer across five key domains: identity, causes, consequences, timeline, and controllability.
- To classify these meanings developmentally and propose a developmental sequence for breast cancer illness representations.
Main Methods:
- Fifty women undergoing breast cancer treatment were randomly selected.
- Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data on the significance attributed to their illness.
- Data analysis focused on identifying meaning content and developmental classification.
Main Results:
- A typical profile emerged: most women knew their diagnosis, attributed causes externally, and noted emotional/functional consequences.
- A majority of women (86%) were at lower (36%) or intermediate (50%) developmental levels of meaning-making.
- A developmental sequence of meanings for breast cancer was established.
Conclusions:
- Understanding women's illness meanings improves comprehension of their emotional responses and coping strategies.
- Tailoring clinical methodologies to a patient's developmental level can enhance care and outcomes.
- Cognitive and developmental approaches provide a valuable framework for breast cancer patient management and clinical decision-making.
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