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Breast cancer poses a major health problem in the United States with one in seven
adult women diagnosed with the disease. Psychological issues related to diagnosis
are well documented; however, a comparison of psychological well-being pre- and
post- diagnosis has not been conducted. The influence of a diagnosis of breast
cancer on women’s well-being has not therefore been assessed. The purpose of this
pilot project is to determine the feasibility of a longer term study that will
examine psychological well-being using Ryff’s (1989) empirically based theoretical
framework, among women with breast cancer from pre-diagnosis to one year post-diagnosis.
A goal of this project is the estimation of the number of women diagnosed with the
disease that can be enrolled pre-diagnosis, continuing participation at least two
months post-diagnosis. For purposes of this pilot study, women will be recruited
at the time of mammogram recall and reassessed approximately two months later
(following surgery, prior to treatment). Approximately one percent of women are
diagnosed following screening. According to national and local data, 10 percent
of women are diagnosed after recall, making recall a more feasible approach to
recruitment than screening (Rosenberg et al., 2006).
This project will:
- Investigate the difference in
psychological well-being among women with breast cancer
pre-diagnosis and approximately two months
post-diagnosis;
- Examine relationships of
psychological well-being with depression, anxiety,
stress, health status, spiritual issues and social
support pre- and post- diagnosis;
- Assess changes over
time from pre- to post-diagnosis with the six variables
of interest among these women;
- Determine differences
in psychological well-being between women who have
surgery only versus women who have surgery plus
chemotherapy.
In addition, the appropriateness of the instruments for this
population will be evaluated. Participants will be recruited
at the Central Baptist Breast Imaging Clinic. Supervisors
Dr. Miller and Dr. Patsey support this study and will play a
major role in the recruitment of participants. Analyses will
include both descriptive and inferential statistics
(t-tests, ANOVA, regression).
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