Objective: The purpose of this article is to evaluate an
8-week pilot intervention based on Social Cognitive Theory to improve
quality of life for women with breast cancer.
Methods: A total of 32 breast cancer patients were
randomized to either the intervention or standard care. Outcome
variables included quality of life, mood, self-efficacy, outcome
expectations, and self-regulation.
Results: Effect sizes were calculated to examine the impact
of the intervention, with moderate to large effect sizes found for
several subscales of the outcome expectations variable: learning about
cancer and treatment (d = 0.85), having a positive attitude
(d = 0.54), talking about cancer (d = 1.02), engaging
in relaxation (d = 0.62), and setting goals (d =
1.58).
Significance of results: A nonparametric sign test was
conducted, indicating that women in the intervention condition either
improved more or showed less decline than the women in standard care,
p = .034, two-tailed. Implications and suggestions for the
content and delivery of future psychosocial interventions with cancer
patients are reviewed.