Evaluating the self-assessed support needs of women with breast cancer

Aims of the study. The first aim of the study was to identify the self-asse ssed support needs of women with breast cancer at various points of illness and, secondly, to establish if these needs formed clusters which could pro vide the basis for developing a standardized scale of needs for use by brea st care teams in the evaluation of care. Background. It has been found that support given to women with breast cance r has a positive effect upon their reactions to the illness and may even pr olong their survival. Given that breast cancer affects a large number of wo men it is obviously important that those affected receive, in addition to t he best available medical treatment, the type of support that best meets th eir needs. This study aimed to provide information on the impact of breast cancer and the need for various types of support by examining women's own a ssessment of their needs at different stages of their illness. Design and methods. A purposive sample of 12 women with a diagnosis of brea st cancer was selected in one health authority in England, United Kingdom ( UK). Women selected represented a wide age range (between 26 and 58), were married or in long-term cohabiting relationships and were at different poin ts on the illness trajectory. Women were invited to take part in a semi-str uctured interview about their experiences of breast cancer. The data from t hese interviews were analysed using the software package Qualitative Soluti ons and Research, Nonnumerical Data Indexing, Searching and Theorizing (QSR *NUDIST). Following this content analysis, a questionnaire was formulated w hich divided statements into seven categories: diagnosis, treatment, suppor t, femininity and body image, family and friends, information and after car e, to be rated on a Likert scale ranging from 'of no importance' to 'extrem ely important'. Questionnaire data were analysed by means of a one-way anal ysis of variance (for three independent variables) or t-test for two indepe ndent variables. Results. The questionnaire was sent to 971 women and achieved a response ra te of 50.4%. The mean score for statements of need reached the level of poi nt 4 on the Likert scale (important) with three exceptions: having professi onal help with family problems and domestic upheaval, coping with feelings of anger and dealing with the question 'why me?' Conclusion. With the above three exceptions, women experienced a high level of need associated with a diagnosis of breast cancer. Studies of this kind should enable resources to be targeted to areas of highest need.