Open AccessWomen’s coping strategies during the first three months of adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer
Author(s) -
Ahlstedt Karlsson Susanne,
Wallengren Catarina,
Olofsson Bagge Roger,
Henoch Ingela
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
nursing open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.55
H-Index - 12
ISSN - 2054-1058
DOI - 10.1002/nop2.430
Subject(s) - coping (psychology) , anxiety , breast cancer , endocrine system , clinical psychology , adjuvant therapy , psychology , psychotherapist , medicine , psychiatry , cancer , hormone
Aim The aim was to explore stressful events, experienced problems and used coping strategies during the first three months of undergoing ET. Design This study used a mixed method design. Methods A consecutive sample of 39 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer were included at the start of their adjuvant endocrine therapy. A daily coping assessment was used to create daily reports about stressful events or experienced problems and coping strategies. Results The most frequently reported physical problems were sleeping difficulties . Anxiety was the most reported emotional problem . Patients used both emotion‐and problem‐focused coping, and sleeping difficulties were coped by relaxing , and anxiety was coped by thinking about something else . Conclusions Patients experienced a variety of stressful events or problems during the first three months of endocrine therapy. They also used several coping strategies to endure the treatment.