Psychosocial Care for Breast Cancer: Physicians' Perspective

authors:

avatar Ahmad Kaviani 1 , * , avatar N Mehrdad 2 , avatar M Yunesian 3 , avatar B Shakiba 4 , avatar M Ebrahimi 2 , avatar K Majidzadeh 2 , avatar ME Akbari 5

Department of Surgery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Iranian Center for Breast Cancer (ICBC), Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
School of Public Health , Environmental Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Students’ Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
International Journal of Cancer Management: Vol.3, issue 1; e80652
published online: March 31, 2010
article type: Research Article
received: August 29, 2009
accepted: December 01, 2009

how to cite: Kaviani A, Mehrdad N, Yunesian M, Shakiba B, Ebrahimi M, et al. Psychosocial Care for Breast Cancer: Physicians' Perspective. Int J Cancer Manag. 2010;3(1):e80652. 

Abstract

Background: Many literatures have documented that psychosocial care can improve health outcomes and reduce morbidity in women with breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the opinion of the breast cancer professional team members on integration of psychosocial care in regular management of breast cancer.
Methods: A cross sectional sample of 313 physicians involving in diagnosis, treatment and supportive care for breast cancer patients were interviewed using a questionnaire.
Results: The majority of participants (52.7%) declared that psychosocial care is necessary for all patients with breast complaints. All except one of the respondents irrespective to their age and job believed that providing the patients with psychosocial supportive care definitively have some positive points for the patients with breast cancer. Of all respondents, 29.6% thought it should be offered as soon as suspicion is raised toward breast cancer, 54.7% preferred to provide such care after the diagnosis of malignancy is confirmed, 11.3% thought it should be prescribed before surgery and 4.4% believed that care should be provided before adjuvant therapy.
Conclusions: The necessity of providing psychosocial care for breast cancer patients was mentioned by the majority of respondents; however there are some major differences among the team members of breast cancer care in regard to psychosocial supportive care. The results of this study highlight the insufficient collaboration among medical team members and the necessity of multidisciplinary approach to all aspects of the important disease through programmed sessions and provide the patients with an integrated comprehensive care.

Fulltext

Full text is available in PDF.