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Self-Help Intervention Project. Women receiving breast cancer treatment
C J Braden1, M H Mishel, A J Longman
1College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721-0203, USA.
Cancer Practice
|May 9, 1998
Summary
The Self-Help Intervention Project (SHIP) improved self-care and psychological adjustment for breast cancer patients. Interventions were most effective for women with lower baseline resourcefulness, enhancing their cancer self-management skills.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Psychosocial Oncology
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant therapy often experience challenges with self-care and psychological adjustment.
- Supportive care interventions aim to mitigate treatment side effects and improve patient outcomes.
- Resourcefulness may influence a patient's ability to engage in self-care and manage cancer-related uncertainty.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of the Self-Help Intervention Project (SHIP) for women undergoing breast cancer treatment.
- To assess the impact of self-care/self-help promotion and uncertainty management interventions.
- To determine if baseline resourcefulness moderates intervention effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- 193 women receiving chemotherapy, radiation, or hormone therapy for breast cancer were randomized into intervention (self-help, uncertainty management, or both) or control groups.
- Data on self-care, self-help, psychological adjustment, and cancer knowledge confidence were collected at baseline, 6-8 weeks, and 3 months post-therapy.
- Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance was used, with baseline resourcefulness (high vs. low) as a blocking factor.
Main Results:
- All SHIP interventions significantly improved self-care, self-help, psychological adjustment, and confidence in cancer knowledge over time, irrespective of baseline resourcefulness.
- Women with lower baseline resourcefulness showed the most substantial improvements in outcome variables.
- Improvements were primarily driven by enhanced psychological adjustment, confidence in cancer knowledge, and self-care.
Conclusions:
- SHIP interventions are effective in supporting breast cancer patients during adjuvant therapy.
- Interventions provide significant benefits, particularly for women with lower baseline resourcefulness, helping them maintain or improve self-care and confidence.
- Healthcare providers should consider these interventions to support diverse patient needs in self-management and psychological well-being.