Article

Supportive Care for Taiwanese Women With Suspected Breast Cancer During the Diagnostic Period: Effect on Healthcare and Support Needs

Mei-Nan Liao

Ping-Ling Chen

Miin-Fu Chen

Shin-Cheh Chen

Yi-Hua Chen

supportive care, breast neoplasms, breast cancer diagnosis
ONF 2009, 36(5), 585-592. DOI: 10.1188/09.ONF.585-592

Purpose/Objectives: To investigate the effect of supportive care on healthcare and support needs for women with suspected breast cancer during the diagnostic period.

Design: A quasiexperimental design with two nonrandomly assigned groups.

Setting: Two general surgery outpatient departments at a large teaching hospital in Taiwan.

Sample: Experimental and control groups included 62 and 60 women with suspected breast cancer, respectively.

Methods: The experimental group received supportive care, including health education pamphlets regarding breast cancer diagnosis and treatment; three sessions of individual, face-to-face health education and emotional support; and two follow-up telephone counseling sessions. The control group received routine care. Data were collected upon notice of need for breast biopsy, before biopsy, and after biopsy results were revealed.

Main Research Variables: Healthcare and support needs.

Findings: Levels of healthcare and support needs before breast biopsy and after results were revealed were significantly lower for the experimental group than the control group. Supportive care and biopsy results predicted healthcare and support need levels after diagnosis confirmation, explaining 57% of the total variance.

Conclusions: Supportive care incorporating information, emotional support, and continuous follow-up care improved the degree to which women with suspected breast cancer perceived that their healthcare and support needs were met.

Implications for Nursing: Supportive care, when individually designed and culturally sensitive, can help clinical nurses improve quality of care for clients with suspected breast cancer during the diagnostic period.

Jump to a section

    References

    Aranda, S., Schofield, P., Weih, L., Milne, D., Yates, P., & Faulkner, R. (2006). Meeting the support and information needs of women with advanced breast cancer: A randomized controlled trial. British Journal of Cancer, 95(6), 667-673.
    Barrere, C.C. (1992). Breast biopsy support program: Collaboration between the oncology clinical nurse specialist and the ambulatory surgery nurse. Oncology Nursing Forum, 19(9), 1375-1379.
    Beaver, K., Twomey, M., Witham, G., Foy, S., & Luker, K.A. (2006). Meeting the information needs of women with breast cancer: Piloting a nurse-led intervention. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 10(5), 378-390.
    Byrne, C., & Sebastian, L. (1994). The defining characteristics of support: Results of a research project. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 32(6), 33-38.
    Deane, K.A. (1997). The role of the breast clinic nurse. AORN Journal, 66(2), 304-310.
    Department of Health, Executive Yuan. (2005a). The five-year national prevention program for cancer. Retrieved November 17, 2007, from http://www.bhp.doh.gov.tw/BHPnet/Portal/
    Department of Health, Executive Yuan. (2005b). Information on quality of medical health care. Quality of medical health report. Taipei, Taiwan: Author.
    Department of Health, Executive Yuan. (2007). Cancer registration annual report. Retrieved November 15, 2007, from http://crs.cph.ntu.edu.tw/crs_c/annual.html
    Department of Health, Executive Yuan. (2008). Regulation of accreditation for hospitals. Retrieved September 17, 2008, from http://www.doh.gov.tw/CHT2006/DM/SEARCH_RESULT.aspx
    Drageset, S., & Lindstrom, T.C. (2005). Coping with a possible breast cancer diagnosis: Demographic factors and social support. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 51(3), 217-226.
    Endacott, R. (1997). Clarifying the concept of need: A comparison of two approaches to concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 25(3), 471-476.
    Fitch, M. (1994). Providing supportive care for individuals living with cancer. Toronto, Canada: Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation.
    Fridfinnsdottir, E.B. (1997). Icelandic women's identifications of stressors and social support during the diagnostic phase of breast cancer. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 25(3), 526-531.
    Gotay, C.C., & Bottomley, A. (1998). Providing psychosocial support by telephone: What is its potential in cancer patients? European Journal of Cancer Care, 7(4), 225-231.
    Helgeson, V.S., Cohen, S., Schulz, R., & Yasko, J. (1999). Education and peer discussion group interventions and adjustment to breast cancer. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56(4), 340-347.
    Kagawa-Singer, M., & Wellisch, D.K. (2003). Breast cancer patients' perceptions of their husbands' support in a cross-cultural context. Psycho-Oncology, 12(1), 24-37.
    Liao, M.N., Chen, M.F., Chen, S.C., & Chen, P.L. (2007). Healthcare and support needs of women with suspected breast cancer. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 60(3), 289-298.
    Liao, M.N., & Chen, P.L. (2006). Women's experience during the diagnostic period of breast cancer. Journal of Oncology Nursing, 6(2), 19-29.
    Liu, L.N., Li, C.Y., Tang, S.T., Huang, C.S., & Chiou, A.F. (2006). Role of continuing supportive care in increasing social support and reducing perceived uncertainty among women with newly diagnosed breast cancer in Taiwan. Cancer Nursing, 29(4), 273-282.
    Lundberg, P.C., & Trichorb, K. (2001). Thai Buddhist patients with cancer undergoing radiation therapy: Feelings, copings, and satisfaction with nurse-provided education and support. Cancer Nursing, 24(6), 469-475.
    McArdle, J.M.C., George, W.D., McArdle, C.S., Smith, D.C., Moodie, A.R., Hughson, A.V., et al. (1996). Psychological support for patients undergoing breast cancer surgery: A randomized study. British Medical Journal, 312(7034), 813-816.
    McPherson, C.J., Higginson, I.J., & Hearn, J. (2001). Effective methods of giving information in cancer: A systematic literature of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Public Health Medicine, 23(3), 227-234.
    Miyashita, M. (2005). A randomized intervention study for breast cancer survivors in Japan. Cancer Nursing, 28(1), 70-78.
    Nilchaikovit, T., Hill, J.M., & Holland, J.C. (1993). The effect of culture on illness, behavior, and medical care. General Hospital Psychiatry, 15(1), 41-50.
    Northouse, L., Kershaw, T., Mood, D., & Schafenacker, A. (2005). Effects of a family intervention on the quality of life of women with recurrent breast cancer and their family caregivers. Psycho-Oncology, 14(6), 478-491.
    Northouse, L.L., Tocco, K.M., & West, P. (1997). Coping with a breast biopsy: How healthcare professionals can help women and their husbands. Oncology Nursing Forum, 24(3), 473-480.
    O'Mahony, M. (2001). Women's lived experience of breast biopsy: A phenomenological study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 10(4), 512-520.
    Palese, A., Comuzzi, C., & Bresadola, V. (2005). Global case management: The "nurse case manager" model applied to day surgery in Italy. Lippincott's Case Management, 10(2), 83-92.
    Rawl, S.M., Given, B.A., Given, C.W., Champion, V.L., Kozachik, S.L., Barton, D., et al. (2002). Intervention to improve psychological functioning for newly diagnosed patients with cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 29(6), 967-975.
    Rehse, B., & Pukrop, R. (2003). Effect of psychosocial interventions on quality of life in adult cancer patients: Meta analysis of 37 published controlled outcome studies. Patient Education and Counseling, 50(2), 179-186.
    Ross, L., Boesen, E.H., Dalton, S.O., & Johansen, C. (2002). Mind and cancer: Does psychosocial intervention improve survival and psychological well-being? European Journal of Cancer, 38(11), 1447-1457.
    Samarel, N., Tulman, L., & Fawcett, J. (2002). Effect of two types of social support and education on adaptation to early-stage breast cancer. Research in Nursing and Health, 25(6), 459-470.
    Scholten, C., Weinlander, G., Krainer, M., Frischenschlager, O., & Zielinski, C. (2001). Difference in patient's acceptance of early versus late initiation of psychosocial support in breast cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer, 9(6), 459-464.
    Shaw, C.R., Wilson, S.A., & O'Brien, M.E. (1994). Information needs prior to breast biopsy. Clinical Nursing Research, 3(2), 119-131.
    Velikova, G., Booth, L., Smith, A.B., Brown, P.M., Lynch, P., Brown, J.M., et al. (2004). Measuring quality of life in routine oncology practice improves communication and patient well-being: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 22(4), 714-724.