Telephone therapy for patients with breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To test the value of telephone-administered cognitive-behavioral therapy in a study of patients with breast cancer.


METHODS
Women were assigned randomly to a therapy group or an assessment-only control group.


METHODS
A tertiary cancer treatment center serving rural areas of North Dakota and Minnesota.


METHODS
Women were recruited within three to four months of stage I (n = 27) or stage II (n = 26) breast cancer diagnosis. Age ranged from 30-82 (mean = 51.5 years). Most participants (n = 35) underwent a modified radical mastectomy; 17 underwent a lumpectomy.


METHODS
Therapy involved 10 30-minute (or less) telephone sessions. Data that were collected from mailed questionnaires included psychological distress (Profile of Mood States), perceived stress, coping (Coping Response Indices-Revised), quality of life (Medical Outcome Scale), and satisfaction with therapy. Measures were completed at baseline and at 4- and 10-month follow-up intervals.


METHODS
Telephone therapy, stress, coping, and quality of life.


RESULTS
With time, women in the therapy and control groups reported reduced stress and improved quality of life. However, significant reductions in some kinds of distress (anxiety, anger, depression, and confusion) were not observed. Most therapy participants liked the telephone treatment sessions but showed only modest improvement (less anxiety and confusion) compared with women in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Most patients reported being comfortable with the telephone therapy and said that they felt better as a result of it. However, the outcome data showed that telephone therapy--as carried out in this study--produced only modest benefits. Researchers need to consider who is best for delivering such therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Providing telephone therapy to patients with breast cancer has potential benefits, and nurses may be the appropriate professionals to administer the therapy.
Sandgren
A K
AK
Roger Maris Cancer Center, Fargo, ND, USA. annsandgren@meritcare.com
McCaul
K D
KD
King
B
B
O'Donnell
S
S
Foreman
G
G
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D009658:North Dakota; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D019114:Remote Consultation; D013997:Time Factors