Supportive care for Taiwanese women with suspected breast cancer during the diagnostic period: effect on healthcare and support needs.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of supportive care on healthcare and support needs for women with suspected breast cancer during the diagnostic period.


METHODS
A quasiexperimental design with two nonrandomly assigned groups.


METHODS
Two general surgery outpatient departments at a large teaching hospital in Taiwan.


METHODS
Experimental and control groups included 62 and 60 women with suspected breast cancer, respectively.


METHODS
The experimental group received supportive care, including health education pamphlets regarding breast cancer diagnosis and treatment; three sessions of individual, face-to-face health education and emotional support; and two follow-up telephone counseling sessions. The control group received routine care. Data were collected upon notice of need for breast biopsy, before biopsy, and after biopsy results were revealed.


METHODS
Healthcare and support needs.


RESULTS
Levels of healthcare and support needs before breast biopsy and after results were revealed were significantly lower for the experimental group than the control group. Supportive care and biopsy results predicted healthcare and support need levels after diagnosis confirmation, explaining 57% of the total variance.


CONCLUSIONS
Supportive care incorporating information, emotional support, and continuous follow-up care improved the degree to which women with suspected breast cancer perceived that their healthcare and support needs were met.


CONCLUSIONS
Supportive care, when individually designed and culturally sensitive, can help clinical nurses improve quality of care for clients with suspected breast cancer during the diagnostic period.
Liao
Mei-Nan
MN
Administration Center of Medical Research Department at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung Institute of Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Chen
Ping-Ling
PL
Chen
Miin-Fu
MF
Chen
Shin-Cheh
SC
Chen
Yi-Hua
YH
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome