Hospital Based Group Intervention for Breast Cancer Patients.

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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INCAM-study is a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial. The aim of the study is to test the effectiveness of psychoeducative intervention when offered in hospital setting as a component of routine breast cancer care. The hypotheses are; - that breast cancer patients participating in psychoeducative interventions focusing on coping will experience better health-related quality of life than those who participate in the hospital standardised psychoeducative intervention. - that coping styles are associated with the immune system.

Detailed Description
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Women operated for breast cancer often experience psychosocial problems for several years. Although, meta-analyses have clearly demonstrated that the efficacy of psychosocial support groups, little is known about the effectiveness of this intervention when offered in the hospital setting as a component of routine breast cancer care. A few studies have found that psychological intervention reduce emotional distress and enhance immune responses,but if there is an association between coping styles and immune system is not clear. 440 breast cancer patients at two Hospital will be randomized into the study. Both Hospital have standardised psychoeducative interventions as a component of routine breast cancer care. Both Hospital will have two groups, the standardised groups and the experimental groups. Participants will answer the same standardised questionnaires before surgery,2,6,12 months and 3 and 5 years after the interventions. Blood sample will be drawn at all assessments. The questionnaires are the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Mini-mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale, the EORTC QLQ-BR32, the Life Orientation Test-Revised. All groups are facilitated by two nurse specialists and follow a structured program. The standardised groups consists of three weekly 2-hours sessions and the experimental groups will consists of six weekly 2-hours session. The intervention protocol has been approved by the Norwegian Committee for medical research Ethics. Knowledge from this study will be used to develop a manual for hospital based group interventions for breast cancer patients.

Official Title
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Effects of Group Intervention on Anxiety, Depression and Quality of Life Among Women Operated for Breast Cancer. A Randomized, Prospective Study.

Conditions
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Depression, Breast Cancer, Anxiety, Quality of Life, Coping

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Psychoeducative
* Other: Support group


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Verified breast cancer diagnosis Age 18 years or more but under 75 years - Exclusion Criteria: Diagnoses of metastatic breast cancer Do not read or write Norwegian Diagnoses of mental retardation, severe or untreated psychopathology, dementia Diagnoses of any immunologic condition or disease -

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 74 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 1<br>Behavioral: Psychoeducative intervention | Behavioral: Psychoeducative<br>* The experimental group consists of five weekly 2-hours sessions, focusing on coping with diagnosis and treatment<br>* Other names: Intervention group;|
| Active Comparator: 2<br>The Hospitals standard follow-up support group | Other: Support group<br>* Standard Hospital follow-up support group<br>* Other names: Standard group;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Scores on Health-related quality of life |  | 2, 6 12 months and at 3 and 5 years |