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Cited by 146Cancer survivorship and careProblem Solving Skills DevelopmentWomen's cancer prevention and management

A problem‐solving approach to stress reduction among younger women with breast carcinoma: A randomized controlled trial

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Allen, Susan M., Shah, Ann C., Nezu, Arthur M., Nezu, Christine Maguth, Ciambrone, Desirée, Hogan, Joseph, Mor, Vincent·2002·Cancer
DOI 10.1002/cncr.10586
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Previous research indicates that younger women (i.e., ≤ 50) with breast carcinoma experience greater emotional distress than older women (i.e., > 50) and that coping style is significantly related to the psychosocial adjustment of women with this disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate through a randomized controlled trial the effectiveness of a problem‐solving training intervention designed to empower women with breast carcinoma to cope with a range of difficulties when diagnosed in mid‐life. METHODS: The study population consisted of women aged 50 years or younger who had no prior history of breast carcinoma, were diagnosed with Stage I‐IIIA tumors, and for whom a first course of chemotherapy had been initiated recently. The intervention consisted of two in‐person and four telephone sessions with an oncology nurse who provided problem‐solving skills training and informational materials to the women over a 12‐week period. All subjects were assessed for physical and psychosocial adjustment through telephone and mailed surveys at baseline, at 4 –months, and at 8 months. RESULTS: Of 183 eligible women, 164 participated (a 90% participation rate), 149 of whom completed the study (a 91% completion rate). The subjects had significantly lower unmet needs and better mental health at the 4‐month assessment. The intervention significantly decreased the number and severity of difficulties experienced by women with average or good problem‐solving skills at 8 months, but was not effective in alleviating or resolving the problems encountered by women with poor problem‐solving skills, relative to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that this problem‐solving therapy‐based home care training intervention is an effective method of helping the majority of women with breast carcinoma to reduce the stresses associated with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in mid‐life. Cancer 2002;94:3089–100. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10586

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Authors
Allen, S. M., Shah, A. C., Nezu, A. M., Nezu, C. M., Ciambrone, D., Hogan, J., & Mor, V.
Affiliations
Brown University (US)
Corresponding author
Allen, Susan M.
ORCID
Venue
Cancer
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2002-06-12
Volume
94
Issue
12
Pages
3089-3100
ISSN
  • 0008-543X (ISSN-L)
  • 1097-0142
DOI
10.1002/cncr.10586
OpenAlex
W2015062650
Cited by
146
References
79
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 15
FWCI
2.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Cancer (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01ca064703-04)
  • National Cancer Institute (CA64703)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › Problem Solving Skills Development
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Women's cancer prevention and management
Keywords
breast cancer, problem-solving therapy, stress reduction, coping styles, young women, middle-aged women, psychosocial adjustment, mental health, unmet needs, telephone-delivered intervention, chemotherapy, home care training
MeSH terms
Adult, Breast Neoplasms, Female, Humans, Problem Solving, Stress, Psychological, Multivariate Analysis

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