title: Contribution of problem-solving skills to fear of recurrence in breast cancer survivors.
abstract: Although fear of recurrence is a major concern among breast cancer survivors after surgery, no standard strategies exist that alleviate their distress. This study examined the association of patients' problem-solving skills and fear of recurrence and psychological distress among breast cancer survivors. Randomly selected, ambulatory, female patients with breast cancer participated in this study. They were asked to complete the Concerns about Recurrence Scale (CARS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine their associations. Data were obtained from 317 patients. Patients' problem-solving skills were significantly associated with all subscales of fear of recurrence and overall worries measured by the CARS. In addition, patients' problem-solving skills were significantly associated with both their anxiety and depression. Our findings warrant clinical trials to investigate effectiveness of psychosocial intervention program, including enhancing patients' problem-solving skills and reducing fear of recurrence among breast cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Cognitive-Behavioral Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 467-8601, Japan, takechi@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tatuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akechi
authors.forename: Kanae
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Momino
authors.forename: Toshinari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsunoda
authors.forename: Hiroji
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwata
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*