Applicability of a western-developed psychosocial group intervention for Japanese patients with primary breast cancer

This paper examines the applicability of psychosocial group intervention fo r Japanese patients with primary breast cancer. The study included two phas es. First, we examined the applicability for Japanese patients of an interv ention model developed in a Western country. The model, based on the work o f Fawzy and Fawzy (1994) on a structured psychosocial group intervention fo r cancer patients, is a series of six 1.5-h sessions that incorporate healt h education, coping-skills training, relaxation training and psychological support. Second, we formulated a Japanese version of the intervention model by modifying areas identified as inappropriate by participants in the firs t-phase study. We then evaluated this by conducting sessions of the modifie d model with 44 additional breast cancer patients. Of the ten participants in the first-phase pilot study, three (30%) dropped out and several inappropriate areas were reported. The areas requiring sig nificant change were the provision of medical information and communication style with family members and doctors. No participants dropped out of the modified version, and very few found any program areas to be inappropriate. The findings suggests that psychosocial group intervention is applicable fo r Japanese breast cancer patients when the model accounts for cultural diff erences. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.