Psychological Factors and Characteristics of Recurrent Breast Cancer Patients with or without Psychosocial Group Therapy Intervention

Abstract

To clarify psychological factors of patients with recurrent breast cancer, we examined their interest in group intervention and studied the characteristics of participants and non-participants in an intervention program. Using several self-administered assessment scales to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients and the symptoms specific to breast cancer patients, we compared sociomedical variables and QOL scores between participants and non-participants. Inter-group differences were significant in the scores for constipation, body image and future perspectives, suggesting the QOL to be higher among participants than non-participants. Interest in group intervention was identified as a major reason for participation in this type of program. Not only physical but also psychologicalfactors were shown to be the reasons for deciding not to participate in group intervention. It is now desirable that efforts be made to stimulate greater understanding of group intervention as a means of psychosocial support for patients with recurrent breast cancer and that social environments be arranged so that these patients are supported by an approach tailored to individual cases, involving both group and individual intervention.

Keywords: participant and non-participant; psychological factor; psychosocial group intervention; recurrent breast cancer patient.