Effects of Follow-up by Phone Interview and Anger Management Training Provided to Patients with Breast Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy on Levels of Self-Esteem, Anger and Depression

摘要

Although surgery, medical oncology and radiation oncology are of importance in the management of breast cancers, psychiatry and supporting care such as psych-oncology nursing have an important role in the breast cancer. The present study aimed to measure the effect of follow-up by phone interviews and anger management training provided to patients with breast cancer on the levels of, anger, self-esteem and depression. The present study was conducted as a randomized-controlled experimental study between February, 2012 and February, 2013. The study conducted on patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy in Radiation Oncology Center of Erciyes University, Mustafa Kemal Dedeman Oncology Hospital in ambulatory settings in Kayseri, Turkey. The experiment and control groups included 22 and 20 subjects, respectively. All subjects completed a survey about general characteristics, Speilberger State-Trait Anger Expression Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Beck Depression Inventory. A significant difference was found between study and control groups in terms of mean overall anger, self-esteem and Beck Depression scores (p< 0.001). A significant difference was found between measurements (p< 0.001). It is recommended to provide home-based care (e.g. phone interviews, home visits) following anger management training in patients with breast cancers and to arrange education program in those receiving radiotherapy.