akram sajadian

The EORTC QLQ-BR45 and QLQ-BR42 questionnaires have been developed to measure the quality of life in breast cancer patients, with 22 and 19 additional items, respectively, compared to the QLQ-BR23 questionnaire. The current project had the objective of evaluating the construct validity of the Persian translation of the QLQ-BR45 and QLQ-BR42 questionnaires.

After confirming the Persian translation of the EORT QLQ-BR45 questionnaire, 480 samples were enrolled in the study for its psychometric evaluation. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the performance of the item and scale of the QLQ-BR45 and QLQ-BR42 questionnaires' total scores and their subscales. Due to the lack of statistical acceptance of the calculated indices, the construct validity of the 23 and 22 questions of QLQ-BR45 was assessed separately to suggest a more appropriate scoring system for these questionnaires.

In the confirmatory factor analysis of the EORTC QLQ-BR45 tool, the indices RMSEA, NFI, NNFI, and CFI were 0.099, 0.516, 0.638, and 0.676, respectively. The QLQ-BR42 factor analysis showed that the indices were 0.111, 0.742, 0.6, and 0.646, respectively. The factor analysis results for the QLQ-BR23 tool showed NFI, NNFI, CFI, and RMSEA values of 0.830, 0.886, 0.909, and 0.061, respectively. In 22 additional items of the QLQ-BR45, these indexes were 0.853, 0.917, 0.913, and 0.07, respectively, all of which indicate acceptable model fit.

As per the current study, the 45 items in the EORTC QLQ-BR45 tool are not a good fit in the combined factor model. Instead of integrating the two sections mentioned, it is suggested that the new 22-item tool be used as an instrument to assess the quality of life in breast cancer patients.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, with its prevalence and mortality rates increasing in recent years. The quality of life and psychological status of patients with breast cancer could be affected after diagnosis, especially during treatment. The main objective of this study is to investigate the long-term influence of breast cancer on the quality of life dimensions in survivors.

This is an ongoing longitudinal prospective study that was administered at the National Institute for Medical Research Development in Iran in March 2020. A total of 1,200 patients with breast cancer, who have completed their treatments, will be recruited from 5 referral medical centers located in Tehran to be followed for 5 years. Questionnaires for evaluating the primary and secondary outcomes will be completed by trained investigators during face-to-face interviews with each participant in three phases: immediately after treatment, 1 year later, and 5 years later. Data will be collected on socio-demographic status, quality of life, body image, hope, psychological problems (e.g., anxiety, depression, and mood), sexual function, and physical activity. Finally, data will be analyzed in each phase using SPSS 22.0 software.

It is the first nationwide, prospective, longitudinal study with large sample size, long-term follow-up, and broad research aims that will evaluate the quality of life-related factors in the Iranian breast cancer population to justify the existing gap in the literature.

The prevalence of depression and anxiety, or a combination of both, in women following a diagnosis of breast cancer is twice more than that in the general female population. Consequently, numerous psychological interventions have been implemented to manage these conditions. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of logotherapy, either alone or in conjunction with yoga, on the levels of anxiety, depression, and happiness in survivors of breast cancer.

This randomized clinical trial study focused on breast cancer patients who completed their treatment and entered the study after providing informed consent. Participants were randomly assigned to either the logotherapy group, with or without the inclusion of yoga, for eight weeks. At both the baseline and end of the study, participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Oxford Happiness Inventory questionnaires. The alterations in outcome scores were then compared between the two groups within the study.

A total of  89 patients aged 49-51 years, all diagnosed with depression, successfully completed all sessions of the intervention. The majority of these participants were married housewives with a diploma-level education, and most were diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. The results indicated that following yoga and logotherapy interventions in both groups, there was a significant reduction in the mean levels of depression and anxiety (P<0.001), alongside a significant increase in the mean happiness score (P<0.001). Furthermore, the research demonstrated that while the reduction in anxiety and depression following the interventions in the logotherapy and yoga group was not significant, the increase in happiness was significant, in comparison with the other two variables (anxiety and depression) (P˂0.026).

As evidenced by the obtained results, logotherapy sessions alone or in combination with yoga showed significant beneficial effects on reducing anxiety and depression and increasing happiness in breast cancer patients. Therefore, it is recommended to incorporate these psychological interventions (logotherapy sessions, both with and without yoga) as a complementary form of treatment.

Psycho-spiritual therapy (mind-body spirituality) is a multidimensional, transpersonal, and integrative intervention for breast cancer survivors. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of counseling based on transpersonal psychotherapy (spirituality therapy, mind and body) in reducing the fear of recurrence in breast cancer survivors.

This was a randomized controlled clinical trial with a pretest-posttest design conducted in Motamed cancer clinic, Tehran. Iran. Thirty breast cancer patients who had finished their treatment were randomly allocated to either an experimental or a control group, 15 patients each. Both groups completed the Persian version Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory. Then, the experimental group participated in transpersonal therapy for 14 sessions, a 2-hour session every week. Both groups completed the aforementioned questionnaire again immediately and two months after the intervention. The data were analyzed with an independent t test and the analysis of variance for repeated measures.

  In the experimental group, the mean fear of recurrence was significantly lower immediately (58.87± 17.86) and at the 2-month follow-up (54.07± 11.88) compared with the baseline (106.80± 15.32) (P< 0.001). However, no difference was observed in the control group.  Also, there were significant differences between the two groups in the mean scores for all components of fear of recurrence, including triggers, severity, psychological distress, coping strategies, functioning impairments, and insight (P< 0.001), except for reassurance.

Based on the findings of the present study, counseling based on transpersonal psychotherapy can reduce the fear of recurrence and stress and increase adaptation and insight in cancer patients. This method increases relaxation, reduces stress, contributing to improved quality of life.

Depression and anxiety are more common in breast cancer patients. Anxiety and depression not only affect breast cancer patients’ quality of life, but also affect their lifestyle. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of logotherapy along with nutrition counseling on anxiety and depression in breast cancer survivors.

In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 90 breast cancer survivors with a depression score above 14 were recruited. The participants were assigned to either a nutritional counceling (control) or a nutritional counseling plus logotherapy group. The control group received nutrition counseling at baseline and at the end of the fourth week of the study, while the intervention group received 8 weeks of logotherapy in addition to nutrition counseling. Both groups completed the Beck Depression Inventory and underwent anthropometric measurements before and after the intervention period. Data were analyzed using SPSS.

The mean (SD) age of the participants was 49 (10) years (range, 28-68 years). More than 50% of people in both groups had an education level of up to diploma or higher; most of them were married; and more than 60% were employed. In the nutrition counseling group, 80% had stage I and II cancer, 11% stage III. In the nutrition counseling plus logo therapy, 65% had stage I and II cancer, and 24% had stage III cancer. Within-group comparisons revealed significant decreases in anxiety and depression scores in both groups (P< 0.001). Also, the improvement in anxiety and depression was significantly greater in the nutrition counseling plus logo therapy group compared with the nutrition counseling group (P< 0.001).

This study shows that nutritional counseling and psychotherapy together can improve depression in breast cancer survivors. The use of psychotherapeutic interventions from the beginning of treatment not only balances the mind and mental health, but also improves the lifestyle and prevents its complications.

Lifestyle modifications consist of three components including diet, exercise, and cognitive-behavioral therapy which can reduce side effects of breast cancer. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a complementary strategy that promotes new skills for any treatment. Published trials have investigated the co-efficacies of the two or three components of lifestyle modifications, especially dietary and cognitive-behavioral interventions in breast cancer survivors.

This protocol is about a meta-analysis which will systematically report the simultaneous effects of dietary intervention or physical activity with cognitive-behavioral therapy, or three of them on quality of life, the recurrence levels and anthropometric measurements among patients with breast cancer and survivors. It was prepared in accordance with the PRISMAP checklist and will be performed in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic reviews of intervention. Cochrane Central Register of Controlled trials, PubMed, EMBASE and ISI web of science will be searched for peer-reviewed literature using defined MeSH terms. Included randomized controlled trials on the combination effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy with either dietary or physical interventions will be assessed. Continuous data will bemeta-analyzed using the STATA and will be gathered using random-effects models. The effect size will be reported as standardized mean difference with 95%CIs. Heterogeneity assessment, publication bias, and sensitivity analysis will be performed. The heterogeneity between some trials may be a limitation of this study.

This meta-analysis will provide beneficial guidance for healthcare providers and family members to improve the current understanding of the role of lifestyle modification on alleviating the important problems of patients with breast cancer

The incidence of breast cancer poses a variety of physical and psychological stresses to the patients and their families, especially husbands. The aim of this study was to evaluate anxiety, depression, and quality of life of husbands of breast cancer patients before and after cancer treatment.

In this descriptive study, we recruited husbands of breast cancer patients (n = 142) under treatment at the Breast Cancer Clinic of the ACECR. The participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and SF-36 before and after completion of their wives’ treatments.

The husbands had significantly lower anxiety (p < 0.001) and depression (p < 0.002) following their wives’ treatment However, their sexual satisfaction had declined at the posttreatment period. The mean scores on three dimensions of quality of life, i.e., physical functioning, general health perception, and mental health, were also declined after the treatment. Most of the husbands had more physical problems after the treatment of their spouses.

It is necessary for health and medical organizations to provide extensive educational services and behavioral interventions to the patients and their families at different stages of diagnosis and treatment.

The diagnosis of cancer involves the patients, their caregivers, and families. Caregivers should obtain guidance from health care professionals to promote care facilities. The current study aimed at investigating the economic, socio-individual, informational, and psycho-spiritual problems of caregivers in post-treatment phase of breast cancer.

The present descriptive study was conducted on 251 subjects using a ques- tionnaire consisted of demographic part and the caregivers’ difficulties. Answers were estimated based on a Likert scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS software.

 Totally, 42% and 37% of participants were spouses and close relatives, re- spectively; 97%, 89%, and 74% of caregivers had psychological, economic, and spiri- tual problems, respectively. All of the caregivers had individual, emotional, physical, economic, and informational problems with care giving (P<0.0001). Significant rela- tionships were observed between the employee group and individual, emotional, infor- mational, and economic problems (P<0.0001). There were significant negative relation- ships between either of the occupational, educational, relationship, caregiving duration, and marital status with spiritual problems (P<0.0001). Significant correlation was ob- served between the duration of caring and the socio-individual, physical, informational and economic problems (P<0.0001).

Although the current study reported insignificant relationships between the socio-individual, informational, and psycho-spiritual problems of caregivers and some demographic variables, related positive trends were observed. Future studies with powerful strategies are needed to alleviate the observed concerns.