Background:
Treatment of breast cancer can be accompanied by long-term consequences
affecting women’s participation in many tasks.
Objective:
This study aimed to assess the effect of cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM)
program on occupational performance of women with breast cancer.
Methods:
In this randomized clinical trial, conducted between Feb 3 and Oct 26, 2016, 104 women
with breast cancer who had referred to Imam Khomeini clinic in Hamadan, and who fulfilled the
inclusion criteria (20-60 years old, married, suffering from grade 1-3 breast cancer with a history of
recent surgery) were enrolled. They were randomly divided into two groups of 52 using a permuted
block size of four. The intervention group took part in four 60-minute sessions of CBSM over four
weeks. The study data were collected using a demographic information form and the Canadian Occupational
Performance Measure. The statistical analyst was masked to intervention allocation. The
data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA.
Results:
A significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the mean scores
of occupational performance (p=0.02) and satisfaction (p=0.005) after the intervention. Each variable
was measured at three time points (before the intervention, immediately and 2 weeks after
intervention). A significant difference was observed in the two groups’ mean scores of performance
(p=0.026) and satisfaction (p=0.01), irrespective of the time of assessment.
Conclusion:
The CBSM program promoted the occupational performance immediately and two
weeks after the intervention in women with breast cancer. This technique can be used as a complementary
method alongside medical therapies in oncology centers.
Randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavioral stress management in breast cancer: A brief report of effects on 5-year depressive symptoms.
