Oral Presentation

The need of information and support of breast cancer patients' first-degree relatives; what do we know?

Sevgi Özkan (TR), Filiz Öğce (TR), İlgün Çınar (TR), Sinem Türkcü (TR)

[Özkan] Pamukkale University, [Öğce] İzmir Ekonomi University, [Çınar] Pamukkale University, [Türkcü] Pamukkale University

Objective: The purpose of the present descriptive study was to identify the information and support needs of first-degree female relatives (FDFR’s) of women with breast cancer (BC) in Turkey. Methods: First-degree female relatives (mother, sisters and daughter) were approached for a cross-sectional, descriptive and non-experimental designed study through patients (n = 199) under treatment for breast cancer who participated in a survey. Patient(s): 199 volunteer relatives were approached by patients, who were interviewed by nurses in a university hospital’s oncology clinic. Intervention(s): They completed the Information and Support Needs Questionnaire (ISNQ). Relationships between socio-demographic characteristics and ISNQ scores were analyzed using the parametric, non parametric, and multiple regression tests. Results: In the study, a statistically significant difference was observed between the information and support needs based on demographics of FDFRs (p< 0.05). The rate of information needs was higher among those who have a risk of breast cancer (whose mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and whose patient has less than a year since diagnosis) and who practiced protective behaviors regularly (such as receiving breast cancer education, performing breast self-examination and clinical breast examination, and undergoing mammogram). And also the rate of unmet support needs was higher among those who have a risk of breast cancer (whose patient had been diagnosed less than a year) and who did not practiced protective behaviors (such as performing breast self-examination and clinical breast examination, and undergoing mammogram) (p< 0.05). It was understood that according to multiple regresion analysis results, information and support needs of first degree relatives of the women increased significantly as the time of diagnosis of cancer increased while not entering menopause and having a sister or daughter who has had breast cancer decreased a relative's information needs. Conclusion: This study showed that primary female relatives of BC need factual information and psychosocial support. Nurses as health care providers have an important place to provide accurate and concise information related to genetic influence of BC. Keywords: Breast cancer - information and supports - primary relatives - nursing - Turkey

 

 

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