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J Clin Outcomes Manage
2007 Jun;14(6):341-352
A systematic review of outcomes associated with psychosocial interventions for women with breast cancer
Bantum EO, Donovan K, Owen JE
Abstract Objectives: To review outcomes associated with psychosocial therapies for breast cancer patients. Methods: 61 randomized controlled trials of psycho-social interventions for women with breast cancer were systematically reviewed. Raters identified characteristics of the interventions, study designs, and outcomes for each study. Results: Patients in the reviewed studies were relatively young (mean age, 51.8 years) and had predominately early-stage disease (65.6%). Treatment providers were primarily nurses (45.9%), psychologists (37.7%), and social workers (29.5%). Emotional well-being was the most commonly assessed outcome measure (86.9% of studies). Fewer than half (43.4%) of studies that evaluated the effects of psychosocial intervention on emotional well-being reported at least 1 significant beneficial effect. Interventions that significantly improved at least 1 measure of emotional well-being utilized more treatment elements (eg, relaxation training) and were provided to groups rather than individuals. Conclusion: Group interventions likely provide a key ingredient lacking from individual interventions, such as the support and understanding from women facing similar circumstances. Provision of multiple treatment elements is more likely to be useful than offering narrowly targeted clinical services.
Clinical Review Article
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