Supervisors info:
Χρούσος Π. Γεώργιος, Ομότιμος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Δαρβίρη Χριστίνα, Επισκέπτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Συρίγος Ν. Κωνσταντίνος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Background-Breast cancer patients undergo extended treatments that affect their physical and psychological state, leading to deterioration in quality of life. Holistic interventions are needed to support these patients.
Method-This a pilot randomized trial that provided the first assessment of a novel, cognitive-based intervention for breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant therapy targeting to improve health-related quality of life, reduce perceived stress, anxiety, depression. Forty five breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant therapy were randomly assigned to the Pythagorean Self-Awareness Intervention (PSAI) group (n = 25) or an informative session control group (n = 20). Standardized questionnaires were administered before and 8-weeks after intervention to evaluate quality of life, stress, depression and anxiety (primary outcomes), as well as sleep quality, adopting of a healthy lifestyle (secondary outcomes). In addition, hair samples were collected to assess cortisol concentration, at baseline and 12-weeks after the end of the program.
Results-Women in the PSAI group reported significantly improvement in total Quality of Life at week 8 (P=0.004),specific aspects of Quality of Life; Physical well-being(P=0.025),Social well-being(P=0.001), Emotional well-being (P=0.002), Functional well-being(P=0.001), Breast cancer concerns(P=0.001) as well as Perceived stress (P=0.000), depression (P=0.017), anxiety(P=0.007), stress ( P=0.003) as primary outcomes. Improvements in secondary outcomes included increase in quality of sleep, empowerment of a healthy lifestyle and reduction in hair cortisol concentrations (P<0.05 for all).
Conclusions-The Pythagorean Self-Awareness Intervention can be considered as feasible and potentially beneficial for women undergoing breast cancer adjuvant therapy. However, it is necessary to be tested through a larger randomized controlled trial with longer follow-up to ascertain its effects.
Keywords:
Cognitive-based, Breast cancer, Adjuvant therapy, Quality of life, Stress, Hair cortisol
