Yonago Acta medica 2011;54:065–074
Psychological Factors and Characteristics of Recurrent Breast Cancer Patients with or without Psychosocial Group Therapy Intervention
Masami Chujo, Junzo Kigawa and Hitoshi Okamura*
Tottori University Hospital Cancer Center, Yonago 683-8504 and *Hiroshima University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Hiroshima 834-8551, Japan
To clarify psychological factors of patients with recurrent breast cancer, we examined their interest in group intervention and studied the characteristics of participants and non-participants in an intervention program. Using several self-administered assessment scales to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients and the symptoms specific to breast cancer patients, we compared sociomedical variables and QOL scores between participants and non-participants. Inter-group differences were significant in the scores for constipation, body image and future perspectives, suggesting the QOL to be higher among participants than non-participants. Interest in group intervention was identified as a major reason for participation in this type of program. Not only physical but also psychological factors were shown to be the reasons for deciding not to participate in group intervention. It is now desirable that efforts be made to stimulate greater understanding of group intervention as a means of psychosocial support for patients with recurrent breast cancer and that social environments be arranged so that these patients are supported by an approach tailored to individual cases, involving both group and individual intervention.

Key words: participant and non-participant; psychological factor; psychosocial group intervention; recurrent breast cancer patient
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