Treatment decision difficulties and post-operative distress predict persistence of psychological morbidity in Chinese women following breast cancer surgery

Psychooncology. 2007 Oct;16(10):904-12. doi: 10.1002/pon.1147.

Abstract

Background: The patterns and determinants of longer-term psychological morbidity in women following breast cancer surgery have not been described for Chinese populations.

Methods: Chinese women were assessed at 3-days, 4-months and 8-months following breast surgery, on treatment decision-making difficulty (TDMD), satisfaction with treatment outcome (E-OI), self efficacy (GSeS), optimism (C-LOT-R), consultation satisfaction (C-MISS-R), physical symptom distress (PSD) and psychological morbidity (CHQ-12) and compared using polynomial logistic models.

Results: Of 303/405 women providing complete data, 33% received chemotherapy and 26% radiotherapy. GSeS, CLOTR and TDMD scores were moderate. Though the proportion of women meeting psychological morbidity case-criteria declined from 78% (95% Confidence Interval 73-83%) at Baseline to 64% (59-69%) at 8-months, almost 50% (44-54%) of women remained distressed over the 8-month period. After adjustment for demographic and clinical factors, severity of psychological morbidity at 4-months was predicted by PSD, disappointment and higher Baseline CHQ12, and among moderate/severe cases only, greater TDMD and pessimistic outlook. At 8-months, CHQ12 scores were predicted by PSD, Baseline CHQ-12, and difficulties with TDM.

Conclusion: TDM difficulties, early post-surgical psychological and physical symptom distress indicate risk for prolonged distress in Chinese women following breast cancer surgery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adjustment Disorders / ethnology*
  • Adjustment Disorders / prevention & control
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms / psychology
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery*
  • China / ethnology
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Decision Making*
  • Female
  • Hong Kong / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Mastectomy / adverse effects
  • Mastectomy / psychology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Stress, Psychological / ethnology*
  • Stress, Psychological / prevention & control