EC Psychology and Psychiatry

Research Article Volume 12 Issue 5 - 2023

The Role of Psychosocial Support and Digital Psychosocial Intervention in Empowering Breast Cancer Patients

Dimitrios Charos1,2*, Andriopoulou M3 and Vivilaki V1

1Midwifery Department, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece

2General Anticancer-Oncology Hospital AgiosSavvas, Athens, Greece

3“Konstantopouleio” General Hospital of Nea Ionia, Athens, Greece

*Corresponding Author: Dimitrios Charos, General Anticancer-Oncology Hospital AgiosSavvas, Athens, Greece.
Received: April 19, 2023; Published:May 19, 2023



The purpose of this review was to investigate the latest studies regarding patient psychosocial support, psychosocial interventions that provide relief for breast cancer patients, and the effectiveness of digital interventions.

Τhe methodology followed was the literature review of recent years through electronic databases (pubmed, scopus, google scholar) regarding the role of psychosocial interventions in breast cancer patients.

A growing number of studies have highlighted the importance of psychosocial interventions for both breast cancer patients and their caregivers. Psychosocial interventions and digital psychosocial interventions are highly effective in improving patients' emotional distress, reducing anxiety, increasing mental resilience, empowering them and improving their quality of life. Digital interventions provide several advantages to breast cancer patients. Especially during the pandemic, breast cancer patients due to the strict restrictions, accessibility to mental health structures was limited. Empowering breast cancer patients reduces emotional distress, increases self-esteem and self-efficacy, enhances disease awareness, adaptation to disease, and treatment and disease management.

Keywords: Breast Cancer; Psychosocial Support; Digital Psychosocial Intervention; Empowerment

  1. Altun H., et al. “Evaluation of Emotional and Behavioral Problems in School-Age Children of Patients with Breast Cancer”. The Turkish Journal of Oncology 34 (2019): 12-20.
  2. Bray F., et al. “Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries”. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 68 (2018): 394-424.
  3. Kauffmann R., et al. “Addressing psychosocial needs of partners of breast cancer patients: a pilot program using social workers to improve communication and psychosocial support”. Support Care Cancer 24 (2016): 61-65.
  4. Lagiou A. “Epidemiology and prevention of breast cancer”. Archives of Hellenic Medicine 6 (2008): 742-748.
  5. Miedema B and Easley J. “Barriers to rehabilitative care for young breast cancer survivors: a qualitative understanding”. Support Care Cancer 20 (2012): 1193-1201.
  6. Momenimovahed Z and Salehiniya H. “Epidemiological characteristics of and risk factors for breast cancer in the world”. Breast Cancer 11 (2019): 151-164.
  7. Fasoi- Barka GG., et al. “Study for the change of health related quality of life in women with early stage breast cancer, one year after the diagnosis”. To Vimatou Asklipiou 9 (2010): 76-99.
  8. Sung H., et al. “Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries”. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 3 (2021): 209-249.
  9. Charos D., et al. “Breast cancer and social relationship coping efficacy: validation of the Greek version”. Women and Health (2021).
  10. Nimekari MM., et al. “Correlation between Supportive Care Needs of Women with Breast Cancer and Quality of Life of their Family Caregivers”. The International Journal of Community-Based Nursing and Midwifery 7 (2019): 300-308.
  11. Noveiri MJS., et al. “Coping Assessment Tools in the Family Caregivers of Patients with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review”. Breast Cancer: Targets and Therapy 12 (2020): 11-26.
  12. Runowicz C., et al. “American Cancer Society/American Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer Survivorship Care Guideline”. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 66 (2016): 43-73.
  13. Michailides A and Constantinou C. “Integration of longitudinal psychoeducation programmes during the phases of diagnosis, management and survivorship of breast cancer patients: A narrative review”. Journal of Cancer Policy (2020).
  14. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer
  15. Torre LA., et al. “Global Cancer Statistics, 2012”. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 65 (2015): 87-108.
  16. Stein KD., et al. “Psychical and psychological long-term and late effects of cancer”. Cancer Supplement 112 (2008): 2577-2592.
  17. Baucom DH., et al. “Men’s psychological functioning in the context of women’s breast cancer”. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy 38 (2012): 317-332.
  18. Baqutayan SMS. “The Effect of Anxiety on Breast Cancer Patients”. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine 2 (2012): 119-123.
  19. Champion VL., et al. “Comparison of younger and older breast cancer survivors and age-matched controls on specific and overall quality of life domains”. Cancer 120 (2014): 2237-2246.
  20. McGinty HL., et al. “Relationship of threat appraisal with coping appraisal to fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer survivors”. Psycho‐Oncology 21 (2012): 203-210.
  21. Park S., et al. “Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for psychological distress, fear of cancer recurrence, fatigue, spiritual well-being, and quality of life in patients with breast cancer: A randomized controlled trial”. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 2 (2020): 381-389.
  22. Spiegel D and Riba MB. “Managing anxiety and depression during Treatment”. The Breast Journal 1 (2015): 97-103.
  23. Kim YH., et al. “A psychological intervention programme for patients with breast cancer under chemotherapy and at a high risk of depression: A randomised clinical trial”. Journal of Clinical Nursing 27 (2018): 572-581.
  24. Antoni MH., et al. “Reduction of Cancer-Specific Thought Intrusions and Anxiety Symptoms with a Stress Management Intervention Among Women Undergoing Treatment for Breast Cancer”. The American Journal of Psychiatry 163 (2006): 1791-1797.
  25. Zahedian E., et al. “Group meta-cognitive therapy and depression in women with breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial”. BMC Women’s Health 21 (2021): 111.
  26. Nordin K., et al. “Design of the study: How can health care help female breast cancer patients reduce their stress symptoms? A randomized intervention study with stepped-care”. BMC Cancer 12 (2012): 167.
  27. Matthews H., et al. “The efficacy of interventions to improve psychosocial outcomes following surgical treatment for breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis”. Psychooncology5 (2017): 593-607.
  28. Sun H., et al. “The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy to treat depression and anxiety and improve quality of life among early stage breast cancer patients”. Integrative Cancer Therapies 1 (2019): 1-9.
  29. Boswell EN and Dizon DS. “Breast cancer and sexual function”. Translational Andrology and Urology 2 (2015): 160-168.
  30. Taylor S., et al. “Interventions for sexual problems following treatment for breast cancer: a systematic review”. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 130 (2011): 711-724.
  31. Charos D and Vivilaki V. “Sexual dysfunction in women with breast cancer: The role of community midwives in early detection”. European Journal of Midwifery 6 (2022): 70.
  32. Steiner JL., et al. “Depressive Rumination Mediates Cognitive Processes and Depressive Symptoms in Breast Cancer Patients and their Spouses”. Families, Systems and Health 4 (2014): 378-388.
  33. Tadayon M., et al. “Investigating the relationship between psychological hardiness and resilience with depression in women with breast cancer”. Gulf Journal of Oncology 28 (2018): 23-30.
  34. Merluzzi TV., et al. “Discerning critical stressors and resources in the lives of cancer patients: A multivariate analysis of targets of intervention for enhancing cancer care and quality of life”. Psycho‐Oncology (2022): 1-10.
  35. Vahidi BM., et al. “Other Side of Breast Cancer: Factors Associated with Caregiver”. Asian Nursing Research 10 (2016): 201-206.
  36. Marshall CA., et al. “Un Abrazo Para La Familia: Providing low-income Hispanics with education and skills in coping with breast cancer and caregiving”. Psycho-Oncology 22 (2013): 470-474.
  37. Cipolletta S., et al. “The effectiveness of psychoeducational support groups for women with breast cancer and their caregivers: A mixed methods study”. Frontiers in Psychology 10 (2019): 288.
  38. Kraemer LM., et al. “A Longitudinal Examination of Couples’ Coping Strategies as Predictors of Adjustment to Breast Cancer”. Journal of Family Psychology 25 (2011): 963-972.
  39. Northouse LL., et al. “Interventions with family caregivers of cancer patients: meta-analysis of randomized trials”. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 60 (2010): 317-339.
  40. Kusi G., et al. “The experiences of family caregivers living with breast cancer patients in low-and middle-income countries: a systematic review”. Systematic Reviews 9 (2020): 165.
  41. Gabriel IO and Mayers PM. “Effects of a psychosocial intervention on the quality of life of primary caregivers of women with breast cancer”. European Journal of Oncology Nursing 38 (2018): 85-89.
  42. Loibl S and Lederer B. “The importance of supportive care in breast cancer patients”. Breast Care 9 (2014): 230-231.
  43. Choi J., et al. “Caregivers of the chronically critically ill after discharge from the intensive care unit: six months’ experience”. American Journal of Critical Care 20 (2011): 12-22.
  44. Liu Y., et al. “Relationships between family resilience and posttraumatic growth in breast cancer survivors and caregiver burden”. Psycho‐Oncology 27 (2018): 1284-1290.
  45. Yan Z., et al. “Dyadic effects of family resilience on post-traumatic stress symptoms among breast cancer patients and their primary family caregivers: A cross-sectional study”. European Journal of Oncology Nursing 53 (2021): 101998.
  46. Holst-Hansson A., et al. “Hoping to reach a safe haven - Swedish families' lived experience when a family member is diagnosed with breast cancer”. European Journal of Oncology Nursing 31 (2017): 52-58.
  47. Han JH., et al. “Primary caregivers' support for female family members with breast or gynecologic cancer”. Cancer Nursing 3 (2016): E49-55.
  48. Karademas E. “Health Psychology. Athens Edition”. Typothyto (2005).
  49. Johnson MO. “The shifting landscape of health care: Toward a model of health care empowerment”. American Journal of Public Health 101 (2011): 265-270.
  50. Andriopoulou M., et al. “The impact of cancer on patients and their caregivers, and the importance of empowerment”. Archives of Hellenic Medicine 35 (2018): 601-611.
  51. Stang I and Mittelmark M. “Intervention to enhance empowerment in breast cancer self-help groups”. Nursing Inquiry 17 (2010): 46-56.
  52. Massicotte V., et al. “COVID-19 Pandemic Stressors and Psychological Symptoms in Breast Cancer Patients”. Current Oncology 1 (2021): 294-300.
  53. Pediconi F., et al. “Breast imaging and cancer diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: recommendations from the Italian College of Breast Radiologists by SIRM”. La Radiologiamedica 125 (2020): 926-930.
  54. Ratnasekera N., et al. “Supportive Care for Oral Cancer Survivors in Covid-19 Lock down”. Psychooncology 29 (2020): 1409-1411.
  55. Swainston J., et al. “COVID-19 Lockdown and Its Adverse Impact on Psychological Health in Breast Cancer”. Frontiers in Psychology (2020).
  56. Ng CWQ., et al. “Maintaining breast cancer care in the face of COVID-19”. BJS Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana (2020).
  57. Chan JJ., et al. “The impact of COVID-19 on and recommendations for breast cancer care: the Singapore experience”. Endocrine-Related Cancer 27 (2020): R307-R327.
  58. Charos D., et al. “Breast cancer and COVID-19: The need for enhanced psychological support for women with breast cancer during the pandemic”. European Journal of Midwifery 6 (2022): 69.
  59. Winzelberg AJ., et al. “Evaluation of an internet support group for women with primary breast cancer”. Cancer 97 (2003): 1164-1173.
  60. Post KE and Flanagan J. “Web based survivorship interventions for women with breast cancer: An integrative review”. European Journal of Oncology Nursing 25 (2016): 90-99.
  61. Badger T., et al. “Depression and Anxiety in Women with Breast Cancer and Their Partners”. Nursing Research 1 (2007): 44-53.

Dimitrios Charos., et al. The Role of Psychosocial Support and Digital Psychosocial Intervention in Empowering Breast Cancer Patients. EC Psychology and Psychiatry 12.5 (2023): 26-34.