ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy is associated with many side effects, including pain and psychological distress, which affect patients' physical and psychological health. AIM: The aim of this study was to elucidate the efficacy of a pain management intervention (POLA) to promote pain, psychological distress, hope and post-traumatic growth in breast cancer patients, also, to undertake a preliminary evaluation of the intervention. METHODS: A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted in an Iranian hospital involving 42 breast cancer (BC) patients during chemotherapy. The intervention group received a 6-week group therapy (90 minutes per session) administered by a psychologist. Meanwhile, the comparison group received standard care. patients' Pain, psychological distress, hope and post-traumatic growth were measured at 3 time points (baseline, week 6, and 12 weeks postintervention). RESULTS: The study design was found to be feasible, with a recruitment rate of 61.64% and an attrition rate of 6.66%. Compared to the control group, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in pain, psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as a notable improvement in hope and post-traumatic growth (p < .01). These differences remained significant at follow-up (p < 0.05). The study population found the intervention acceptable, as evidenced by a high attendance rate of 90% and adherence rate of 90.47%. CONCLUSION: Psychoeducational intervention positively affects the pain, psychological distress, hope and post-traumatic growth of BC patients during chemotherapy.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pain experience is one of the most common symptoms of women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. It may cause physical and psychological problems and interfere with the treatment process. AIMS: This study aimed to examine the relationship between depression, stress, resilience and spirituality on the pain symptoms of breast cancer patients during chemotherapy and explore the potential mediating role of mindfulness in this association. METHOD: Two hundred and forty women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy from Shiraz University Hospital, were selected and evaluated by a purposive sampling method. The research instruments were Perceived Stress Scale, Beck Depression Questionnaire-2, Mindfulness, Resilience, Spirituality and Pain Questionnaires. The obtained data was analyzed by SPSS software and MPLUS using Spearman correlation coefficient and path analysis. RESULTS: Based on the findings of direct path analysis, depression, stress, and spirituality showed a significant relationship with mindfulness, but resilience had no significant relationship with mindfulness (p < 0.01). Furthermore, depression, stress, resilience, and mindfulness showed a significant relationship with pain, while spirituality had no significant relationship with pain (p < 0.01). Finally, indirect path analysis revealed mindfulness is a significant mediator of stress and pain (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested a model can be useful in better understanding of the psychological components affecting pain in breast cancer patients, after and during their treatments. It also provided an effective framework to develop and investigate pain-focused and non-pharmacological interventions.
