Effect of group therapy for breast cancer on healthcare utilization.
Cancer Pract
; 9(1): 19-26, 2001.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11879269
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether participation in a group psychosocial intervention by patients with breast cancer would result in an improvement in psychological measures and in reduced billings in general medical expenses. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY Eligible women who had completed treatment for stage 0, I, or II primary breast cancer were prospectively and randomly assigned to either the intervention (n=46) or control (n=43) group. Both groups received the usual psychosocial care; however, the intervention group also participated in six weekly cognitive/behavioral psychosocial meetings. All were assessed on psychiatric symptoms, mood, depression, and coping strategies at four time periods pre-intervention, post-intervention, 1-year follow-up, and 2-year follow-up. Alberta Healthcare billing records were obtained covering the 2-year follow-up period to determine the amount billed per person over the course of the study.RESULTS:
Women in the intervention group had less depression, less overall mood disturbance, better overall quality of life, and fewer psychiatric symptoms than those in the control group, beginning immediately post-intervention and remaining so at 2 years post-intervention. Billing in the intervention group was an average of $147 less than in the control group, a 23.5% reduction. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS This is the first study to show that a psychosocial intervention can reduce direct healthcare billings in a sample of patients with cancer. Importantly, these findings help to justify the routine availability of such programs in cancer treatment facilities worldwide.
Buscar en Google
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Psicoterapia de Grupo
/
Neoplasias de la Mama
/
Servicios de Salud
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
/
Observational_studies
Aspecto:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
/
Implementation_research
/
Patient_preference
Límite:
Female
/
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Cancer Pract
Asunto de la revista:
ENFERMAGEM
/
NEOPLASIAS
Año:
2001
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Canadá