Author: Theodora Seliniotaki1, Flora Bacopoulou2,3, Dimitrios Vlachakis4,5, Artemios Artemiadis6, Katerina Kampoli7, George Chrousos8, Christina Darviri#1, Anna Koumarianou#7
Affiliation:
1 Postgraduate Course of Science of Stress and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
2 Postgraduate Course of Science of Stress and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. bacopouf@hotmail.com.
3 University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. bacopouf@hotmail.com.
4 University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. dimvl@aua.gr.
5 Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece. dimvl@aua.gr.
6 Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
7 Hematology-Oncology Unit, Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon Hospital, Athens, Greece.
8 University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Conference/Journal: Adv Exp Med Biol
Date published: 2022 Jan 14
Other:
Volume ID: 1339 , Pages: 85-95 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-78787-5_12. , Word Count: 260
Stress management programs have demonstrated benefits for patients with breast cancer, but their adoption in clinical practice is limited mainly due to the absence of necessary resources. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an 8-week stress management program, carried out by one psychologist, in women treated for breast cancer. In this randomized controlled trial, patients were allocated to two groups (control and intervention groups) that received standard care; women in the intervention group also participated in an 8-week stress management program. Intervention included stress- and diet-related psychoeducation, diaphragmatic breathing, guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, and cognitive reconstruction. Anthropometric and psychological measurements were carried out in both groups, pre- and post-intervention, using a battery of questionnaires. A total of 53 patients participated in the study, of whom 27 in the intervention group. Analysis revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups post-intervention in body mass index (P = 0.040) and quality of life, including global health status (P = 0.019), emotional functioning (P = 0.024), cognitive functioning (P = 0.041), and diarrhea (P = 0.012). There was a statistically significant effect of the type of surgery (partial or total mastectomy) to role functioning (P = 0.030), with major benefits identified in the subgroup of patients that had undergone mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. This stress management program, carried out by a single health professional, significantly improved some psychosomatic health parameters of patients with breast cancer. Short interventional programs can be successfully implemented with minimal resources to deliver quality care in these women.
Keywords: Breast cancer; Breast chemotherapy; Breast oncology; Psychology; Quality of life; Stress management.
PMID: 35023094 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-78787-5_12
