The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of integrated psychoeducational program for distress management of newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer.

A quasi-experimental trial was conducted. The participants consisted of 47 female patients with breast cancer assigned to an intervention group (n=25) and control group (n=22). The intervention group participated in integrated psychoeducational program, consisting of individual face-to-face education and telephone-delivered health-coaching sessions. Data were collected at three time points: pre-intervention (T1), post-intervention (T2), and 6-month follow-up (T3). Study instruments were Distress thermometer, Supportive Care Needs Survey Short Form 34 and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast.

Compared with the control group, breast cancer patients in the intervention group reported lower distress and supportive care needs than the control group. The intervention group reported higher quality of life (QOL) overall and higher emotional well-being than the control group.

These findings indicate that the integrated psychoeducational program is an effective intervention for reducing distress and supportive care needs and increasing QOL of newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer. Oncology nurses need to provide psychoeducational intervention to support patients with breast cancer in managing their distress and helping them adjust to their life.

The purpose of this present study was to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a needs scale for patients with cancer undergoing follow-up care (NS-C).

A preliminary NS-C of 48 was derived from literature reviews and in-depth interviews with patients with cancer. Content validation of the items was established by oncology physicians and nurses. Each item was scored on a five-point Likert scale. The preliminary NS-C and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status questionnaires were administered to 873 patients with cancer recruited from three university hospitals. The data were analyzed using factor analysis, multidimensional scaling analysis, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and Cronbach's alpha.

From the factor analysis, 25 significant items in six subscales were derived. The subscales were named physical symptoms, diet and exercise, support, relationship with health professionals, treatment/prognosis, and keeping mind under control. The NS-C also established item convergent and discriminant validity, and known-groups validity. Cronbach's alpha of the subscales ranged from .90 to .92.

This study suggests that the NS-C is an easy, reliable and valid instrument to measure the needs of patients with cancer. Health professionals may use the NS-C for patients with cancer both in practice and research.