A brief psychoeducational intervention improves memory contentment in breast cancer survivors with cognitive concerns: results of a single-arm prospective study

Abstract

Purpose: One in three breast cancer survivors experiences persistent cognitive changes that can negatively impact daily functioning and quality of life. In our cancer center, the largest tertiary cancer center in Canada, patients with self-reported cancer-related cognitive dysfunction (CRCD) are offered psychoeducation intended to reduce distress about CRCD symptoms and improve everyday cognitive performance, but evidence regarding this intervention's impact is lacking. Here, we assess whether a 1-hour (h), individual psychoeducational intervention designed to promote self-management of CRCD symptoms can improve attitudes and coping with memory-related difficulties in women with breast cancer.

Methods: Breast cancer survivors with self-reported CRCD (N = 100) were assessed immediately before, immediately after, and 6 weeks following the intervention. Participants' memory contentment, knowledge of CRCD, symptom distress, and self-efficacy to cope with symptoms were measured.

Results: Participants showed improvements in memory contentment immediately after the intervention (Cohen's d effect size and 95% CI = 0.87 [0.58, 1.16]) and 6 weeks later (d = 0.77 [0.48, 1.05]). Significant improvements in secondary study outcomes, including knowledge of CRCD (d = 1.32 [1.01, 1.63]), symptom distress (d = - 0.82 [- 1.11, - 0.53]), and self-efficacy to cope with cognitive symptoms (d = 1.45 [1.14, 1.76]), were also observed.

Conclusions: A single, 1-hour psychoeducational intervention can achieve lasting and improved adjustment to memory symptoms in breast cancer survivors with self-reported CRCD. Further investigation using a randomized controlled study design is warranted. Comparisons with previously reported psychoeducational interventions for CRCD are made, and next steps for this research are discussed.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Cancer-related cognitive dysfunction; Chemo-brain; Patient-reported memory symptoms; Psychoeducational intervention; Quality of life.