Evelyn Pauwels

Care needs after primary breast cancer treatment. Survivors' associated sociodemographic and medical characteristics

This study examines the care needs of rehabilitating breast cancer survivors and determines what sociodemographic and medical characteristics are associated with these care needs.

The contribution of general and cancer-related variables in explaining physical activity in a breast cancer population 3 weeks to 6 months post-treatment

Physical activity determinants are subject to change when confronted with the diagnosis of ‘cancer’ and new cancer‐related determinants appear. The aim of the present study is to compare the contribution of cancer‐related determinants with more general ones in explaining physical activity 3 weeks to 6 months post‐treatment.

Treatment-related and psychosocial variables in explaining physical activity in women three weeks to six months post-treatment of breast cancer

OBJECTIVE This study examined treatment-related and psychosocial variables in explaining total and leisure time physical activity in breast cancer survivors three weeks to six months post-treatment. METHODS A questionnaire was used to measure total and leisure time physical activity and relevant determinants among 464 breast cancer survivors (aged 18-65 years). RESULTS Personal control was an important overall determinant in explaining physical activity in breast cancer survivors. The impact of treatment-related variables and psychological functioning depended on the working status of the women. Fatigue and poor body image prevented non-working women from being sufficiently physically active. In working women, chemotherapy and arm problems negatively influenced physical activity, whereas therapy side-effects (headaches, hot flashes, feeling unwell) and poor body image positively influenced physical activity. Social support and coping strategies could not explain post-treatment physical activity levels. CONCLUSION Personal control, treatment-related variables and psychological functioning influenced physical activity after cancer treatment. Relations depended on the working status of the women. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Incorporating self-control methods in physical activity interventions after breast cancer could be helpful. Furthermore, interventions should be tailored to the experienced symptoms (fatigue, arm-problems, body image) and working status of women.

Psychosocial characteristics associated with breast cancer survivors' intimate partners' needs for information and support after primary breast cancer treatment.

This study examines which psychosocial characteristics are associated with breast cancer survivors’ partners’ posttreatment needs for information and support. Eighty-four partners completed measures of coping, social support, illness representations, perceived stress, self-efficacy, anxiety, depression, and marital malfunctioning. Partners in need reported higher anxiety and depression, emotional illness representations, and emotion-oriented coping than partners without needs. Moreover, partners needing information and support took a more negative view on the timeline and consequences of their spouses posttreatment condition. Interventions aimed at enhancing partners’ posttreatment adjustment should focus on partners responding emotionally as well as perceiving their spouses condition as a chronic condition.

Design and process evaluation of an informative website tailored to breast cancer survivors’ and intimate partners’ post-treatment care needs

BackgroundOn-line provision of information during the transition phase after treatment carries great promise in meeting shortcomings in post-treatment care for breast cancer survivors and their partners. The objectives of this study are to describe the development and process evaluation of a tailored informative website and to assess which characteristics of survivors and partners, participating in the feasibility study, are related to visiting the website.MethodsThe development process included quantitative and qualitative assessments of survivors’ and partners’ care needs and preferences. Participants’ use and evaluation of the website were explored by conducting baseline and post-measurements. During the intervening 10–12 weeks 57 survivors and 28 partners were granted access to the website.ResultsFifty-seven percent (n=21) of survivors who took part in the post-measurement indicated that they had visited the website. Compared to non-visitors (n=16), they were more likely to have a partner and a higher income, reported higher levels of self-esteem and had completed treatment for a longer period of time. Partners who consulted the on-line information (42%, n=8) were younger and reported lower levels of social support compared to partners who did not visit the website (n=11). Visitors generally evaluated the content and lay-out positively, yet some believed the information was incomplete and impersonal.ConclusionsThe website reached only about half of survivors and partners, yet was mostly well-received. Besides other ways of providing information and support, a website containing clear-cut and tailored information could be a useful tool in post-treatment care provision.