Retrospective evaluation of the treatment for breast cancer: how does the patient's personal experience of the treatment affect later adjustment to the illness?
The aim of the present study was the evaluation of patients' treatment experience for breast cancer and its possible associations with the illness adjustment process. To examine perception and experience of treatment during the diagnostic and the inpatient phase, as well as during chemo-and radiotherapy and during after-care, a self-compiled questionnaire was employed. To assess illness adjustment, the German version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the "Freiburger Fragebogen zur Krankheitsverarbeitung" and the "Veränderungsfragebogen des Erlebens und Verhaltens" were used. 126 patients participated in the study, all diagnosed for breast cancer during the past 5 years. We found an association between negative experience of all treatment phases (doctor-patient relationship, communication) and impaired adjustment process reflected by high anxiety and depression scores and more problematic coping strategies.
Department of Social Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Gynecology and Obstetrics Basel, Schanzenstrasse 46, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland. jalder@uhbs.ch
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J
Alder
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J
Bitzer
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires