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Women's decision satisfaction and psychological distress following early breast cancer treatment: a treatment decision support role for nurses
Author(s) -
Budden Lea M,
Hayes Barbara A,
Buettner Petra G
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of nursing practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.62
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1440-172X
pISSN - 1322-7114
DOI - 10.1111/ijn.12243
Subject(s) - somatization , breast cancer , medicine , referral , distress , anxiety , psychological distress , clinical psychology , depression (economics) , patient satisfaction , psychiatry , cancer , family medicine , nursing , economics , macroeconomics
This prospective cross‐sectional study investigated A ustralian women's ( n = 104) decision satisfaction with cancer treatment decision for early breast cancer as well as their psychological distress 3–4 months following surgery. Women's satisfaction was surveyed using the T reatment D ecision S atisfaction Q uestionnaire, and the B rief S ymptom I nventory‐18 was used to measure psychological distress. Women who were living alone, who worked as professionals and who were not involved in the decision‐making process by their doctors were less likely to be satisfied with their decision process, outcome and their overall treatment decision. Following treatment, 26.0% of women were distressed; 18.3% experienced anxiety; 19.2% somatization; and 27.9% depression. Women who experienced somatization were more likely to be dissatisfied with the treatment decision ( P = 0.003) as were those who reported psychological distress ( P = 0.020). Women who were involved in choosing their treatment were more satisfied with their decision. Many women experienced distress following breast cancer treatment and might have required referral for psychological assessment, management and long‐term support. Women who experienced distress were more likely to be dissatisfied with the treatment decision (or vice versa).