scholarly journals Social support for breast cancer patients in the occupied Palestinian territory

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0252608
Author(s):  
Mona I. A. Almuhtaseb ◽  
Francesca Alby ◽  
Cristina Zucchermaglio ◽  
Marilena Fatigante
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Occupied Palestinian Territory ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Palestinian Territory

Previous research indicates that social support is beneficial to cancer patients in adjusting to the stress of the disease. Drawing on a qualitative content analysis of 36 semi-structured interviews, this article explores sources and types of social support in Arab-Palestinian women with breast cancer. Results show that members of the immediate family, husbands in particular, are reported to be the most supportive social sources. Given the limitations that characterize access to cancer care in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) and the collectivistic values of the society, women with breast cancer seem to rely mainly on their husbands to handle emotional, functional and informational needs. Emotional support includes the provision of care, trust, reassurance, and companionship. Functional support includes the practical assistance that the cancer patients receive in terms of financial support, attendance during treatment or help with domestic chores and childcare. Accessing appropriate informational support can be quite challenging in the OPT since available information is not always reliable. The family plays a key role in mediating communication with doctors. Contact with breast cancer patients and survivors is also a source of supporting information, with however a possible negative impact in terms of emotional coping. In this context, the immediate family becomes a fundamental resource for coping and a relational space that mediates connections with others, including doctors, acting as a “proxy” between the patient and the social environment. Findings are discussed in light of the historical and sociocultural context of the OPT.

From a Death Sentence to a Disrupted Life

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 487-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weeam Hammoudeh ◽  
Dennis Hogan ◽  
Rita Giacaman
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Death Sentence ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Palestinian Territory ◽  
The Impact

This study explores women’s experiences of breast cancer in the occupied Palestinian territory. We use an inductive qualitative design with a thematic analytical approach for conducting and analyzing 35 semi-structured interviews with breast cancer patients. The interviews focused on diagnosis, experiences and coping with breast cancer, social support and care needs, and the impact of illness on their families and social relationships. Three themes emerged: (a) the transition from initial shock to the daily struggles with disruptions caused by illness, (b) the role of social support in helping women cope with the burden of disease, and the importance of (c) faith and reliance on God (tawakkul). In the Palestinian context, women’s narratives highlighted the disruptive nature of breast cancer. Our findings underline the importance of social support provided by extended family members. Finally, faith is an important overarching theme that influences how women make sense of and cope with breast cancer.

scholarly journals Hospital Processes and the Nurse-Patient Interaction in Breast Cancer Care. Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8224
Author(s):  
Johanna Sophie Lubasch ◽  
Susan Lee ◽  
Christoph Kowalski ◽  
Marina Beckmann ◽  
Holger Pfaff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Patient Survey ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Patient Interaction ◽  
Hospital Structures

(1) Background: Evidence suggests that organizational processes of hospitals have an impact on patient-professional interactions. Within the nurse-patient interaction, nurses play a key role providing social support. Factors influencing the nurse-patient interaction have seldomly been researched. We aimed to examine whether the process organization in hospitals is associated with breast cancer patients’ perceived social support from nurses.; (2) Methods: Data analysis based on a cross-sectional patient survey (2979 breast cancer patients, 83 German hospitals) and information on hospital structures. Associations between process organization and perceived social support were analyzed with logistic hierarchical regression models adjusted for patient characteristics and hospital structures.; (3) Results: Most patients were 40–69 years old and classified with UICC stage II or III. Native language, age and hospital ownership status showed significant associations to the perception of social support. Patients treated in hospitals with better process organization at admission (OR 3.61; 95%-CI 1.67, 7.78) and during the hospital stay (OR 2.11; 95%-CI 1.04; 4.29) perceived significantly more social support from nurses.; (4) Conclusions: Designing a supportive nursing work environment and improving process organization in hospitals may create conditions conducive for a supportive patient-nurse interaction. More research is needed to better understand mechanisms behind the associations found.

scholarly journals What mediates the racial/ethnic disparity in psychosocial stress among breast cancer patients?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. T. Sánchez-Díaz ◽  
S. Strayhorn ◽  
S. Tejeda ◽  
G. Vijayasiri ◽  
G. H. Rauscher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Psychosocial Stress ◽  
Breast Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Support Needs ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Hispanic Patients ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Abstract Background Prior studies have observed greater levels of psychosocial stress (PSS) among non-Hispanic (nH) African American and Hispanic women when compared to nH White patients after a breast cancer diagnosis. We aimed to determine the independent and interdependent roles of socioeconomic position (SEP) and unmet support in the racial disparity in PSS among breast cancer patients. Methods Participants were recruited from the Breast Cancer Care in Chicago study (n = 989). For all recently diagnosed breast cancer patients, aged 25–79, income, education, and tract-level disadvantage and affluence were summed to create a standardized socioeconomic position (SEP) score. Three measures of PSS related to loneliness, perceived stress, and psychological consequences of a breast cancer diagnosis were defined based on previously validated scales. Five domains of unmet social support needs (emotional, spiritual, informational, financial, and practical) were defined from interviews. We conducted path models in MPlus to estimate the extent to which PSS disparities were mediated by SEP and unmet social support needs. Results Black and Hispanic patients reported greater PSS compared to white patients and greater unmet social support needs (p = 0.001 for all domains). Virtually all of the disparity in PSS could be explained by SEP. A substantial portion of the mediating influence of SEP was further transmitted by unmet financial and practical needs among Black patients and by unmet emotional needs for Hispanic patients. Conclusions SEP appeared to be a root cause of the racial/ethnic disparities in PSS within our sample. Our findings further suggest that different interventions may be necessary to alleviate the burden of SEP for nH AA (i.e., more financial support) and Hispanic patients (i.e., more emotional support).

Received and perceived support subscales of the Berlin Social Support Scales in women diagnosed with breast cancer attending the breast clinic at Tygerberg hospital: structure and correlates

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-66
Author(s):  
Rizwana Roomaney ◽  
Ashraf Kagee ◽  
Nina Knoll
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Social Support ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Public Health Care ◽  
Perceived Support ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Breast Clinic

Research in the field of psycho-oncology in South Africa is increasing, and there is a need for validated measures that assess factors associated with cancer, such as social support. The Berlin Social Support Scales are a battery of instruments that measure various types and functions of social support. The measure was originally developed for use among adult cancer patients, and their partners but has also been used among other clinical populations and healthy adults. We investigated the psychometric properties of the English version of the perceived and received sub-scales, Berlin Social Support Scales. Our sample included South African women ( N = 201) who were diagnosed with breast cancer and receiving treatment at a public health care facility. We administered several measures, including a demographic questionnaire, the Berlin Social Support subscales, the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire, and The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy to participants. Validity and reliability analyses were conducted. Factor analysis resulted in the retention of 17 items that clustered on two factors, namely received support and perceived support. The 17-item version of the Berlin Social Support Scale demonstrated strong reliability and validity in the sample. The two subscales are quick to administer, easy to interpret, and are a reliable measure of social support among breast cancer patients in South Africa.

Quality of Life and Well-Being of Breast Cancer Patients

2020 ◽  
pp. 67-94
Author(s):  
Melisa Anderson ◽  
Dwayne Tucker ◽  
Fabian G. Miller ◽  
Kurt Vaz ◽  
Lennox Anderson-Jackson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Physical Aspect ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Malignant Breast

Breast cancer is a disease in which there is increased proliferation of malignant breast cells. This disease is more likely to begin in the ducts or lobules rather than the connective tissue. Globally, breast cancer is the most regularly diagnosed cancer. It is also a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in females. While cancer of the breast affects the physical aspect of patients, it can also negatively impact the quality of life (QoL) of survivors. There is a dearth of information, especially in the last decade, on the negative impact of breast cancer and treatment modalities on the QoL of patients. This review of the literature will examine the QoL and well-being of breast cancer patients to present a current perspective on the topic. Major findings of past and present articles that have contributed to improving the care of breast cancer patients will be summarized and included.

Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia among breast cancer patients presenting to a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e12523-e12523
Author(s):  
Omolola Salako ◽  
Kehinde Sharafadeen Okunade ◽  
Adeoluwa Akeem Adeniji ◽  
Gabriel Fagbenro ◽  
Oluwasegun Afolaranmi
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Bone Metastasis ◽  
Febrile Neutropenia ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Complete Blood Count ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Chemotherapy Induced Neutropenia

e12523 Background: Neutropenia and febrile neutropenia are major dose-limiting adverse effects of systemic cancer chemotherapy. It has been associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and high costs of management, and treatment breaks in cancer patients especially in resource-limited environments leading to poorer outcomes. Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia is an established complication of breast cancer treatment, however, there is paucity of information on the exact magnitude of the condition. This study assessed the prevalence of neutropenia and febrile neutropenia, while identifying their associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 113 female chemotherapy-naïve breast cancer patients over a two-year period. Sociodemographic, clinical and haematological data was obtained via semi-structured interviews and from medical case files. Blood samples for complete blood count parameters were collected after each course of chemotherapy. The National Cancer Institute Common Terminology CTCAE version 4.03 was used to assess febrile neutropenia, neutropenia and its severity. Results: The prevalence of neutropenia and febrile neutropenia among the patients was 31.9% and 5.3% respectively. Throughout all courses of chemotherapy, there were neutropenic episodes 11.4% (57/502) with mild neutropenia 6.6%, moderate 3.4% and severe 1.4%. Prevalence of neutropenia decreased with increasing chemotherapy courses, with prevalence after first course being 14.2% and last course 4.9%. Associated risk factors for developing neutropenia include increasing age ( p = 0.014), ECOG performance score > 1 at presentation (p = 0.033) and presence of bone metastasis (p = 0.002). Conclusions: One in three breast cancer patients developed neutropenia while on chemotherapy. The use of prophylactic G-CSF after each course of chemotherapy should be a routine practice, especially among elderly patients, unstable patients, and those with bone metastasis.

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