After the Psychoeducational Intervention: Turkish Breast Cancer Survivors’ Experiences

Abstract

Objective: To explore breast cancer survivors’ life experiences and perceptions about participating in a psychoeducational intervention that aimedat reducing psychological distress and in improvement of the quality of life.Materials and Methods: This study was a post-trial qualitative descriptive study. Data were collected at semi-structured interviews three monthsafter the psychoeducational intervention. Interviews were conducted with 32 Turkish breast cancer survivors. Obtained data were analyzed withinductive content analysis.Results: The data were categorized into three themes: personal growth, unmet needs and recommendations about the quality of the psychoeducation.Survivors explained that they had positive changes in their self-concept, view of life and relationships after the psychoeducational intervention.In addition, they mentioned the unmet needs to join support groups and raise public awareness to decrease stigma over breast cancer patients in thesociety.Conclusion: The results of the present study provide new insights into experiences of breast cancer survivors who participated a psychoeducationalintervention and provide guidance for attempts to improve survivorship care via psychoeducation to professionals. Psychoeducational interventionsshould be continuously offered to provide psychosocial support for breast cancer survivors. Future research into psychoeducation for breast cancersurvivors should be restructured to involve social support.