Published in:
01-09-2013
Effectiveness of a patient self-management programme for breast cancer as a chronic illness: a non-randomised controlled clinical trial
Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship | Issue 3/2013
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Purpose
Patient self-management enables living with a chronic disease effectively. This study examines the effectiveness of a 4-week self-management programme to enable self-management of the numerous after-effects and with breast cancer as a chronic disease.
Methods
Upon ethical approval, 147 multiethnic survivors (stages I–III breast cancer) received either a 4-week self-management intervention (n = 68) or usual care (n = 78) on a controlled clinical trial in a medical centre. The facilitator-led group intervention provides self-management support and skills for managing the medical, emotional and role tasks. Survivors completed the pre- and post-intervention measures on quality of life, distress and participation inventory.
Results
Multiple analyses of covariance (adjusted for baseline measures) showed significant differences between groups [F(6, 129) = 2.26, p = 0.04 at post-test and F(6, 129) = 4.090, p < 0.001 at follow-up]. Post hoc analysis indicated significantly better outcome on all measures. At follow-up, the experimental group had a mean quality of life (QOL) score of 3.39 [CI = 1.37–5.42; p = 0.001] greater than the control.
Conclusions
There is preliminary evidence that the 4-week self-management intervention enhance the QOL of women with breast cancer, by enabling them to better self-manage the numerous medical, emotional and role tasks. Further randomised trials are warranted.
Implication for Cancer Survivors
Survivors receiving self-management programme report improved HRQL compared with those on usual care. Although time can attenuate the participation limitation and distress of survivors, self-management programmes could help to increase patients’ self-efficacy for better self-management.