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Cognitive Processing Variables in Breast Cancer: Worry and Distress at the End of Treatment

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Abstract

This study assessed the influence of cognitive processing variables on cancer worries and distress after breast cancer treatment. In multivariate analyses, while independent variables were intolerance of uncertainty and intrusive thoughts, constructs' variables were anxiety and depression symptoms and cancer-related worries. The intolerance to uncertainty had a tendency to influence on distress and concerns about cancer after the end of treatment (Wilks' λ = 0.687, p = 0.074). Whereas, thought intrusion had a significant influence on distress and cancer related worries (Wilks' λ = 0.228, p = 0.000). Cognitive variables could be addressed by the oncology nurse when considering the patients' concerns related to cancer and psychological distress.

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Acknowledgements

We thank those cancer patients who kindly volunteered to participle in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of Mataró, Ctra. de Cirera s/n, 08304, Mataró, Barcelona, Spain

    Gema Costa-Requena

  2. Out-Patient Breast Cancer Unit, Duran i Reynals Hospital, Barcelona, Spain

    Ana Rodríguez & Rosina Fernández

  3. Research Unit, Hospital of Mataró, Mataró, Barcelona, Spain

    Elisabet Palomera

  4. Psycho-Oncology Unit, Duran i Reynals Hospital, Barcelona, Spain

    Francisco L. Gil

Authors
  1. Gema Costa-Requena
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  2. Ana Rodríguez
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  3. Rosina Fernández
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  4. Elisabet Palomera
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  5. Francisco L. Gil
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gema Costa-Requena.

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Ethical Approval

The study was approved by the institutional reviews boards and by the Ethics Committee from Duran i Reynals Hospital, and all participants gave informed consent.

Supported

This research was supported by the Catalan Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Research (No. 102/19/2004).

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Costa-Requena, G., Rodríguez, A., Fernández, R. et al. Cognitive Processing Variables in Breast Cancer: Worry and Distress at the End of Treatment. J Canc Educ 26, 375–379 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0140-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0140-8

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