Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Feb 25;8(1):e31756.
doi: 10.2196/31756.

Evaluation of the Pathways for Survivors Program to Address Breast Cancer Survivorship-Associated Distress: Survey Study

Saumya Umashankar  1 , Matina Elise Mamounas  1 , Madeline Matthys  1 , Edward Kenji Hadeler  1 , Emily Claire Wong  1 , Greg Hicks  2 , Jimmy Hwang  1 , Amy Jo Chien  1 , Hope S Rugo  1 , Deborah Hamolsky  1 , Laura Esserman  1 , Michelle Melisko  1
Affiliations

Evaluation of the Pathways for Survivors Program to Address Breast Cancer Survivorship-Associated Distress: Survey Study

Saumya Umashankar et al. JMIR Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Patients with breast cancer frequently experience escalation of anxiety after completing curative treatment.

Objective: This study evaluated the acceptability and psychological impact of a 1-day workshop to emphasize behavioral strategies involving intention and self-efficacy.

Methods: Breast cancer survivors who attended a 1-day Pathways for Survivors workshop provided feedback and completed electronic quality of life (QOL) questionnaires at baseline, 1 and 6 weeks, and 6 months after the workshop. Attendees' baseline QOL scores were compared to follow-up (FUP) scores. Scores from patients receiving routine FUP care were also compiled as a reference population.

Results: In total, 77 patients attended 1 of 9 workshops. The mean satisfaction score was 9.7 out of 10 for the workshop and 9.96 out of 10 for the moderator. Participants' baseline mean Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) anxiety and depression scores were 57.8 (SD 6.9) and 55.3 (SD 7.5), respectively, which were significantly higher than those of patients receiving routine FUP care (49.1, SD 8.3 and 47.3 SD 8.0, respectively). PROMIS anxiety and depression scores decreased, and the Happiness Index Profile (HIP-10) score-measuring intention and resiliency-increased significantly at 1- and 6-week FUPs.

Conclusions: The Pathways for Survivors program was favorably received. Anxiety and depression decreased significantly at 1- and 6-weeks after the workshop and remained below baseline at 6 months. Increased HIP-10 scores suggest that patients acquired and implemented skills from the workshop. A 1-day workshop led by a lay moderator significantly improved several psychological measures, suggesting that it may be a useful and time-efficient strategy to improve QOL in breast cancer survivors. We are investigating whether an abbreviated "booster" of the intervention at a later date could further improve and maintain QOL gains.

Keywords: anxiety; breast cancer; breast cancer survivors; cancer survivorship; depression; mental health; psychological health; quality of life.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of (A) PROMIS depression T-scores, (B) PROMIS anxiety T-scores, and (C) HIP-10 scores at baseline (participants and comparison group) and follow up (participants only). BS: baseline; CNTRL: baseline comparison group; HIP-10: Happiness Index Profile; Nobs: number of observations; PROMIS: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. American Cancer Society. 2019. [2020-03-09]. https://tinyurl.com/2b3cxba5 .
    1. Ellegaard MB, Grau C, Zachariae R, Bonde Jensen A. Fear of cancer recurrence and unmet needs among breast cancer survivors in the first five years. A cross-sectional study. Acta Oncol. 2017 Feb;56(2):314–320. doi: 10.1080/0284186X.2016.1268714. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Lo-Fo-Wong DNN, de Haes HCJM, Aaronson NK, van Abbema DL, den Boer MD, van Hezewijk M, Immink M, Kaptein AA, Menke-Pluijmers MBE, Reyners AKL, Russell NS, Schriek M, Sijtsema S, van Tienhoven G, Verdam MGE, Sprangers MAG. Risk factors of unmet needs among women with breast cancer in the post-treatment phase. Psychooncology. 2020 Mar;29(3):539–549. doi: 10.1002/pon.5299. http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/31785043 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Stanton AL, Rowland JH, Ganz PA. Life after diagnosis and treatment of cancer in adulthood: contributions from psychosocial oncology research. Am Psychol. 2015;70(2):159–174. doi: 10.1037/a0037875.2015-08692-008 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Allen JD, Savadatti S, Levy AG. The transition from breast cancer 'patient' to 'survivor'. Psychooncology. 2009 Jan;18(1):71–78. doi: 10.1002/pon.1380. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources