Breast cancer and its treatments such as mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy cause many side effects such as scar, problems with body perception and sexual problems. Sexual concerns lead to significant emotional distress, including sadness/depression, issues related to personal appearance, stigma, and negative impacts on personal relationships, intimacy and sexuality all of which reduce the quality of life. This experimental type of research is conducted within the framework of the BETTER model to evaluate the impact of counselling programme on sexuality issues that patients with breast cancer experience.
Methods: The sampling consists of 60 female participants who volunteered to participate in the study. Face to face interviews are held with the female participants based on the Information Forms and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI)", "EORTC QLQ-BR23 Quality of Life Questionnaire", "Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)", "Body Cathexis Scale (BCS)" and "BETTER Model". Counselling programme of the women in the intervention group is held in four sessions one week apart and these women are provided with a counselling booklet accompanied by a CD. The scales are re-applied one month after the last session. In the control group, the women are left under routine hospital control after the scales are applied. The scales are re-applied to the control group after one month.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
o An appointment was made with the women in the experimental group at a time when they were available and a suitable environment was arranged in the hospital. The counselling programme of the experimental group was conducted in four sessions one week apart. In addition, each woman in the experimental group was given a counselling booklet and compact disc. The interviews lasted between 15- 45 minutes. The topics of interest among women were noted in the interviews and after the information on the subject was received, feedback was given to the relevant woman through a phone call.
"Female Sexual Function Index"
"Female Sexual Function Index" has six subscales named as desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain. In subscales, increasing points evaluate positively. Scores between two and thirty-six are obtained from the scale. It is found to be a valid and reliable scale. "Female Sexual Function Index" scores of breast cancer patients who receive nursing counselling for sexual problems increase after counselling programme.
Time frame: 1.5 months
the functional scale of the "European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Breast 23"
"European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Breast 23" consists of 23 questions that look into the side effects of breast cancer treatments, body image, sexuality and future expectations. Scores between zero and one hundred points could be obtained from the scale. In Functional Scale increasing points evaluate positively. It is found to be a valid and reliable scale. The functional scale scores of the"European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Breast 23" of breast cancer patients who receive nursing counselling for sexual problems increase after counselling programme.
Time frame: 1.5 months
"Body Cathexis Scale"
This 40-item scale aims to measure the degree of happiness among people regarding their body sections and functions. Scores between 40 and 200 points can be obtained from the scale. This scale has no cut-off point. The high scores received indicate a high degree of satisfaction. Validity and reliability study for this scale is conducted in our country. "Body Cathexis Scale" scores of breast cancer patients who receive nursing counselling for sexual problems increase after counselling programme.
Time frame: 1.5 months
"Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale"
The scale consists of 20 items and four subscales on depression-related symptoms during a one week period. The total score that can be received from the scale vary between 0 and 60, with 16 points and above suggesting the probability of depression.It is a valid and reliable scale that is frequently used in cancer patients. "Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale" scores of breast cancer patients who receive nursing counselling for sexual problems decrease after the counselling programme.
Time frame: 1.5 months
The symptom scale of the "European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Breast 23"
"European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Breast 23" consists 23 questions that look into the side effects of breast cancer treatments, body image, sexuality and future expectations. Scores between zero and one hundred points could be obtained from the scale. In the Symptom Scales/Items decreasing points evaluate positively. It is found to be a valid and reliable scale. The symptom scale scores of the "European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Breast 23" of breast cancer patients who receive nursing counselling for sexual problems decrease after the counselling programme.
Time frame: 1.5 months
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