Effect of Intervention Programs for Improving Maternal Adaptation in Korea: Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Psychosocial Support
• Couple Therapy

Background:

• Breast cancer significantly impacts survivors' lives and relationships.
• Limited research exists on interventions involving both survivors and their partners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on interventions for breast cancer survivors and their partners.
• To summarize the current knowledge on the effectiveness of these interventions.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, PubMed, and Proquest.
• Studies published between January 2000 and December 2011 were included in the review.

Main Results:

• Fourteen studies were identified, with couple-based interventions showing greater effectiveness than those for survivors alone.
• Interventions targeting partners positively influenced their wives' outcomes.
• Most studies were pilot studies with small sample sizes, primarily involving Caucasian women in the USA.

Conclusions:

• Couple-based interventions offer significant benefits for breast cancer survivors across physical, interpersonal, and social domains.
• Future research should focus on larger sample sizes and diverse ethnic groups to validate these findings.