Satisfaction, utilisation and perceived benefit of individual psychosocial support for breast cancer patients--a randomised study of nurse versus psychologist interventions.
OBJECTIVE
In a prospective, randomised study, individual psychosocial support performed by: (1) specially trained oncology nurses (INS) or (2) psychologists (IPS) were compared with respect to utilisation, satisfaction and perceived benefit.


METHODS
Between December 1997 and December 1999, consecutive breast cancer patients (n=120) were included at start of adjuvant therapy (chemo-, endocrine and/or loco-regional radiotherapy). Data were collected by an extended version of the 'IPS-patient satisfaction questionnaire' within 1 week after termination of the support intervention. Questionnaires were also mailed to all patients 6, 12 and 18-24 months after inclusion. Levels of distress were collected with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Impact of Event Scale (IES) questionnaires.


RESULTS
The patients were highly satisfied with the individual psychosocial support intervention they received, irrespective of which profession provided the support. However, the patients in the INS group reported higher levels of benefit regarding disease-related problems, regardless if the patients at baseline reported low or high levels of distress.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients were highly satisfied with an individual psychosocial support intervention. In areas dealing with somatic aspects, the group intervened by nurses were more satisfied than the one by psychologists.


CONCLUSIONS
Individual psychosocial support by specially trained nurses is a realistic alternative in routine cancer care.
Arving
Cecilia
C
Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Section of Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, S-751 83 Uppsala, Sweden. cecilia.arving@pubcare.uu.se
Sjödén
Per-Olow
PO
Bergh
Jonas
J
Lindström
Annika Thalén
AT
Wasteson
Elisabet
E
Glimelius
Bengt
B
Brandberg
Yvonne
Y
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011586:Psychology, Clinical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden