remotivation process for improving adherence to lymphedema treatment programs in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema

Conditions: Breast Carcinoma; Lymphedema

Summary: this trial studies how well the remotivation process in an occupational therapy program works in improving adherence to lymphedema treatment programs in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema. lymphedema treatment programs are well developed and effective, but adherence to these programs are an issue. the remotivation process is a series of techniques that helps guide discussions between occupational therapists and their patients based on their level of motivation. this study uses the remotivation process by gathering patients' thoughts about their experience with lymphedema and occupational therapy services to determine their motivation and learn about the barriers they face in order to improve adherence to these programs.

primary objectives: i. how does remotivation process change daily performance of the lymphedema management techniques? (quantitative study) ii. how does the remotivation process affect the client's manifestation of breast cancer-related lymphedema (bcrl)? (quantitative study) iii. how does the remotivation process affect the client's occupational participation and quality of life? (quantitative study) iv. what are the perspectives of patients with bcrl about the self-management program after participating in an occupational therapy using the remotivation process? (qualitative study) v. what are the perspectives of patients with bcrl about their arm after the occupational therapy program? (qualitative study) vi. how do patients with bcrl describe their daily life after occupational therapy? (qualitative study) outline: patients participate in a discussion with an occupational therapist via videoconferencing over 15 minutes once weekly (qw) for 4 weeks about their experience with lymphedema and the occupational services they received. after 4 weeks, some patients may also participate in an interview with an occupational therapist via videoconferencing over 60 minutes. during the first week of the study, patients also receive occupational therapy per standard of care. after completion of study, patients are followed up at 1 month.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * unilateral upper extremity lymphedema following procedures to address breast cancer, able to communicate in english and participate in discussion sessions and follow up for the duration of the study of eight weeks * women will be able to participate in work, household responsibilities, and possible child-rearing responsibilities. these are necessary components of quality of life and occupation, which are the primary concepts of interest of the study. the study will include women with varied levels of functional performance status and life expectancy as long as they are willing to participate in a 15-minute discussion once a week in addition to their scheduled occupational therapy sessions at city of hope (coh) * the effects of remotivation process on the developing fetus are unknown. for this reason, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control or abstinence) prior to study entry and for six months following duration of study participation. should a woman become pregnant or suspect that she is pregnant while participating on the trial, she should inform her treating physician immediately * all subjects must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent * the participant should also be receiving occupational therapy services at coh for bcrl during the first week of the study. the participant can be an on-going patient receiving customary occupational therapy services, or a new patient who will be seen for occupational therapy initial evaluation. the study will include patients with bcrl regardless of any other medical treatment they are receiving in addition to occupational therapy. some participants may only need less than 4 weeks of customary occupational therapy in order to meet their intervention goals. in this case, the participant will still be asked to return at the end of the fourth week for follow up. data obtained from the outcome measures will be included in quantitative analysis. the participant will also be included in the list of names that will be randomly selected for the 60-minute interview exclusion criteria: * patients should not have any uncontrolled illness including ongoing or active infection such as cellulitis * subjects, who in the opinion of the investigator, may not be able to comply with the safety monitoring requirements of the study