Qian Lu1, Lingjun Chen2, Lilian J Shin2, Carol Wang5, Lenna Dawkins-Moultin2, Qiao Chu4, Alice Loh5, Lucy Young5, Carol Wang5. 1. Department of Health Disparities Research, Unit 1440, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St., Houston, TX, 77030, USA. qlu@mdanderson.org. 2. Department of Health Disparities Research, Unit 1440, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St., Houston, TX, 77030, USA. 3. Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA. 4. School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 5. Herald Cancer Association, San Gabriel, CA, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate improvements in quality of life and psychological well-being among Chinese American breast cancer survivors who participated in a pilot community education and peer-mentor support program. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-nine Chinese American breast cancer survivors who recently completed treatment participated in eight cohorts of the program, Joy Luck Academy, which included weekly education and peer-mentor support sessions. The education sessions covered topics designed to help participants adjust to new life after breast cancer treatment. The peer-mentor support component was designed to provide social support. Quality of life and psychological well-being (e.g., depressive symptoms, anxiety, and low- and high-arousal positive and negative affect) were assessed at baseline and immediately after the intervention. RESULTS: Paired samples t tests indicated improvements in quality of life, low- and high-arousal positive affect, and reductions in depressive symptoms, anxiety, and low-arousal negative affect. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that a psychosocial group intervention may improve quality of life and psychological well-being among Chinese American breast cancer survivors. Our intervention has the potential to be applied to other ethnic-minority cancer survivors. Future randomized controlled trials are warranted.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate improvements in quality of life and psychological well-being among Chinese American breast cancer survivors who participated in a pilot community education and peer-mentor support program. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-nine Chinese American breast cancer survivors who recently completed treatment participated in eight cohorts of the program, Joy Luck Academy, which included weekly education and peer-mentor support sessions. The education sessions covered topics designed to help participants adjust to new life after breast cancer treatment. The peer-mentor support component was designed to provide social support. Quality of life and psychological well-being (e.g., depressive symptoms, anxiety, and low- and high-arousal positive and negative affect) were assessed at baseline and immediately after the intervention. RESULTS: Paired samples t tests indicated improvements in quality of life, low- and high-arousal positive affect, and reductions in depressive symptoms, anxiety, and low-arousal negative affect. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that a psychosocial group intervention may improve quality of life and psychological well-being among Chinese American breast cancer survivors. Our intervention has the potential to be applied to other ethnic-minority cancer survivors. Future randomized controlled trials are warranted.
Entities:
Keywords:
Breast cancer; Chinese American; Psychological well-being; Psychosocial intervention; Quality of life
Authors: Catherine Benedict; Jason R Dahn; Michael H Antoni; Lara Traeger; Bruce Kava; Natalie Bustillo; Eric S Zhou; Frank J Penedo Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2014-09-23 Impact factor: 3.894