Premium
Benefits from an uncertainty management intervention for African–American and Caucasian older long‐term breast cancer survivors
Author(s) -
Mishel Merle H.,
Germino Barbara B.,
Gil Karen M.,
Belyea Michael,
LaNey Iris Carlton,
Stewart Janet,
Porter Laura,
Clayton Margaret
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.909
Subject(s) - cognitive reframing , ethnic group , breast cancer , psychological intervention , medicine , randomized controlled trial , coping (psychology) , intervention (counseling) , gerontology , multivariate analysis of variance , long term care , cancer , physical therapy , clinical psychology , psychology , psychiatry , surgery , psychotherapist , machine learning , sociology , anthropology , computer science
In a randomized controlled design, this study tested the efficacy of a theoretically based uncertainty management intervention delivered to older long‐term breast cancer survivors. The sample included 509 recurrence‐free women (360 Caucasian, 149 African–American women) with a mean age of 64 years (S.D.=8.9 years) who were 5–9 years post‐treated for breast cancer. Women were randomly assigned to either the intervention or usual care control condition. The intervention was delivered during four weekly telephone sessions, in which study nurses guided cancer survivors in the use of audiotaped cognitive–behavioral strategies to manage uncertainty about recurrence, and a self‐help manual designed to help women understand and manage long‐term treatment side effects and other symptoms. Treatment outcome data on uncertainty management were gathered at pre‐intervention and 10‐months afterward. Repeated measures MANOVA evaluating treatment group, ethnic group, and treatment by ethnic interaction effects indicated that training in uncertainty management resulted in improvements in cognitive reframing, cancer knowledge, patient–health care provider communication, and a variety of coping skills. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of theory‐based interventions for cancer survivors that target triggers of uncertainty about recurrence and in terms of ethnic differences in response to the intervention. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.