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Cited by 19Cancer survivorship and careWomen's cancer prevention and managementCancer, Stress, Anesthesia, and Immune Response

Pre-surgery supportive and goal-oriented strategies are associated with lower post-surgery perceived distress in women diagnosed with breast cancer

Open access
Taurisano, Paolo, Abbatantuono, Chiara, Verri, Veronica, Pepe, Ilaria, Stucci, Luigia S., Taurino, Alessandro, Moschetta, Marco, De Caro, Maria F. +1 more·2022·BMC Psychology
DOI 10.1186/s40359-021-00714-3PMC PMC8725323
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Abstract

Background: Psycho-oncology literature pointed out that individual health outcomes may depend on patients’ propensity to adopt approach or, conversely, avoidant coping strategies. Nevertheless, coping factors associated with postoperative distress remain unclear, unfolding the lack of tailored procedures to help breast cancer patients manage the psychological burden of scheduled surgery. In view of this, the present study aimed at investigating: 1. pre-/post-surgery distress variations occurring among women diagnosed with breast cancer; 2. the predictivity of approach and avoidant coping strategies and factors in affecting post-surgery perceived distress. Methods: N = 150 patients (mean age = 59.37; SD = ± 13.23) scheduled for breast cancer surgery were administered a screening protocol consisting of the Distress Thermometer (DT) and the Brief-COPE. The DT was used to monitor patients’ distress levels before and after surgery (± 7 days), whereas the Brief-COPE was adopted only preoperatively to evaluate patients’ coping responses to the forthcoming surgical intervention. Non-parametric tests allowed for the detection of pre-/post-surgery variations in patients’ perceived distress. Factor analysis involved the extraction and rotation of principal components derived from the Brief-COPE strategies. The predictivity of such coping factors was investigated through multiple regression (Backward Elimination). Results: The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test yielded a significant variation in DT mean scores (TW = -5,68 < -zα/2 = -1,96; p < .001) indicative of lower perceived distress following surgery. The four coping factors extracted and Varimax-rotated were, respectively: 1. cognitive processing (i.e., planning + acceptance + active coping + positive reframing); 2. support provision (i.e., instrumental + emotional support); 3. emotion-oriented detachment (i.e., self-blame + behavioral disengagement + humor + denial); 4. goal-oriented detachment (i.e., self-distraction). Among these factors, support provision (B = .458; β = − .174; t = − 2.03; p = .045), encompassing two approach coping strategies, and goal-oriented detachment (B = .446; β = − .176; t = − 2.06; p = .042), consisting of one avoidant strategy, were strongly related to post-surgery distress reduction. Conclusion: The present investigation revealed that the pre-surgery adoption of supportive and goal-oriented strategies led to postoperative distress reduction among breast cancer patients. These findings highlight the importance of timely psychosocial screening and proactive interventions in order to improve patients’ recovery and prognosis.

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  • Patients who experience presurgery psychological distress can influence postoperative functional recovery and prognosis.

    “A study has shown that patients who experience presurgery psychological distress can infuence postoperative functional recovery and prognosis [46].”

    From Symptom Experiences before Medical Help-Seeking and Psychosocial Responses of Patients with Esophageal Cancer: A Qualitative Study. (2023) · cites this paper as [46]

    The Conclusions (page not provided) suggest that reducing distress through pre-surgery coping strategies may improve recovery. But the study assessed distress before and shortly after breast cancer surgery; it did not establish that pre-surgery distress affects postoperative functional recovery or prognosis. The Limitations note that its one-week timeframe could not capture longer-term outcomes. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [34]Charalampopoulou M Kritseli E Chrousos GP Darviri C Efficacy of stress management and psychosocial interventions on body image in breast cancer survivors—a systematic review Dialogues Clin Neurosci Ment Health 2019 2 4 237 242
  2. [37]First M Spitzer R Gibbon M Williams J Structured clinical interview for DSM-IV axis I disorders. User’s guide 1997 Washington American Psychiatric Press

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Authors
Taurisano, P., Abbatantuono, C., Verri, V., Pepe, I., Stucci, L. S., Taurino, A., Moschetta, M., De Caro, M. F., & Antonucci, L. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Bari Aldo Moro (IT)
  • Azienda Universitaria Ospedaliera Consorziale - Policlinico Bari (IT)
Corresponding author
  • Abbatantuono, Chiara
  • Antonucci, Linda A.
ORCID
Venue
BMC Psychology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2022-01-03
Volume
10
Issue
1
Pages
2-2
ISSN
2050-7283 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s40359-021-00714-3
PMC
PMC8725323
OpenAlex
W4206547053
Cited by
19
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3
FWCI
1.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMC Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Bari Aldo Moro) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Women's cancer prevention and management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Cancer, Stress, Anesthesia, and Immune Response
Keywords
breast cancer, breast cancer surgery, postoperative distress, coping strategies, approach coping, avoidance coping, social support, emotional support, self-distraction
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Breast Neoplasms, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Goals, Humans, Middle Aged, Stress, Psychological, Multivariate Analysis

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