Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Stress and intervention preferences of patients with brain tumors

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Supportive Care in Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Despite advances in diagnosis, treatment, and management of brain tumors, a brain tumor (BT) can significantly disrupt a person’s life and create stress. To design effective stress reduction interventions, it is essential to have an understanding of the beliefs, past experiences, and preferences concerning stress reduction techniques and programs among patients with BTs.

Materials and methods

Using a convenience sample, 60 adult patients with primary BTs completed the study questionnaire. Demographic information and patient preferences were collected using self-reported measures, medical information was collected via medical chart review, and stress was assessed using Perceived Stress Scale.

Results

Sixty-three percent of the population sampled experienced elevated levels of stress. Eighty-six percent wanted to learn about techniques to reduce stress and 78% believed stress reduction techniques can help reduce stress. However, only 56% indicated they would be able to participate in a stress reduction program twice a week and only 40% of the sample wanted to participate in the various stress reduction programs presented to them in this study. Furthermore, only 26% of the sample actually wanted to receive information about stress reduction programs and only 25% would participate in programs using the various modes presented.

Conclusion

The results of this study clearly indicate that patients with BTs experience stress. Furthermore, the data is encouraging in regard to the patients’ desire to learn about stress reduction techniques. However, the lack of interest in actually receiving information and the inability to envision themselves participating in programs present a major challenge.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Andersen BL, Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Glaser R (1994) A biobehavioral model of cancer stress and disease course. Am Psychol 49:389–404

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Boon H, Brown J, Gavin A (2000) What are the experiences of women with breast cancer as they decide whether to use complementary/alternative medicine? West J Med 73:39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Carlson LE, Bultz BD (2003) Benefits of psychosocial oncology care: improved quality of life and medical cost offset. Health Qual Life Outcomes 1:8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Carlson LE, Bultz BD (2003) Cancer distress screening: needs, methods and models. J Psychosom Res 55:403–409

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Carney RM, Freedland KE (2002) Psychological distress as a risk factor for stroke-related mortality. Stroke 33:5–6

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Cassileth BR, Chapman CC (1996) Alternative and complementary cancer therapies. Cancer 77:1026–1034

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Cohen S, Karmarck T, Mermelstein R (1983) A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav 24:385–396

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Cwikel JG, Behar LC, Zabora JR (1997) Psychosocial factors that affect the survival of adult cancer patients: a review of research. J Psychosoc Oncol 15:1–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Demark-Wahnefried W, Peterson B, McBride C, Lipkus I et al (2000) Current health behaviors and readiness to pursue life-style changes among men and women diagnosed with early stage prostate and breast carcinomas. Cancer 88:674–684

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Fawzy FI, Fawzy NW, Arndt LA (1995) Critical review of psychosocial interventions in cancer care. Arch Gen Psychiatry 52:100–113

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ganz PA (2002) Breast cancer 2002: where do we stand? CA Cancer J Clin 52:253–255

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Giovagnoli AR, Silvani A, Colombo E et al (2005) Facets and determinants of quality of life in patients with recurrent high grade glioma. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 76:562–568

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Green BL, Krupnick JL, Rowland JH et al (2000) Trauma history as a predictor of psychologic symptoms in women with breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 18:1084–1093

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Jones LW, Courneya KS (2002) Exercise counseling and programming preferences of cancer survivors. Cancer Pract 10:208–215

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Mackereth PA, Stringer J (2005) CAM and cancer care: champions for integration. Complement Ther Clin Pract 1:45–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. McQuellon RP, Wells M, Hoffman S et al (1998) Reducing distress in cancer patients with an orientation program. Psychooncology 7:207–217

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Monti DA, Yang J (2005) Complementary medicine in chronic cancer care. Semin Oncol 32:225–231

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Nano R, Ceroni M (2005) The immunobiology of malignant gliomas. Funct Neurology 20:39–42

    Google Scholar 

  19. National Brain Tumor Foundation (2005) http://www.braintumor.org/. Accessed July 1

  20. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) (2005) Distress management panel definition. http://www.nccn.org. Accessed September 25

  21. Pelletier G, Verhoef MJ, Khatri N et al (2002) Quality of life in brain tumor patients: the relative contributions of depression, fatigue, emotional distress, and existential issues. J Neurooncol 57:41–49

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Penson RT, Partridge RA, Shah MA et al (2005) Fear of death. Oncologist 10:160–169

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Rabkin JG, Wagner GJ, DelBene M (2000) Resilience and distress among amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients and caregivers. Psychosom Med 62:271–279

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Remer S, Murphy ME (2004) The challenges of long-term treatment outcomes in adults with malignant gliomas. Clin J Oncol Nurs 8:368–376

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Speca M, Carlson LE, Goodey E et al (2000) A randomized, wait-list controlled clinical trial: the effect of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction program on mood and symptoms of stress in cancer outpatients. Psychosom Med 62:613–622

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Stjernsward J, Colleau S (1996) The W.H.O. cancer pain and palliative care program: past, present, and future. J Pain Symptom Manage 12:65–66

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Strine TW, Kobau R, Chapman DP et al (2005) Psychological distress, comorbidities, and health behaviors among U.S. adults with seizures: results from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey. Epilepsia 46:1133–1139

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Tallibert S, Laigle-Donadey F, Sanson M (2004) Palliative care in patients with primary brain tumors. Curr Opin Oncol 16:587–592

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Taphoorn MJ (2003) Neurocognitive sequelae in the treatment of low-grade gliomas. Semin Oncol 30:45–48

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Taphoorn MJ, Klein M (2004) Cognitive deficits in adult patients with brain tumours. Lancet Neurol 3:159–168

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. VanderCreek L, Rogers E, Lester J (1999) Use of alternative therapies among breast cancer outpatients compared with the general population. Altern Ther Health Med 5:71–76

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Weitzner MA, Meyers CA (1997) Cognitive functioning and quality of life in malignant glioma patients: a review of the literature. Psychooncology 6:169–177

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Zabora J, Brintzenhofeszoc K, Curbow B, Hooker C (2001) The prevalence of psychological distress by cancer site. Psychooncology 10:19–28

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Zebrack BJ, Gurney JG, Oeffinger K et al (2004) Psychological outcomes in long-term survivors of childhood brain cancer: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Clin Oncol 22:999–1006

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Tug McGraw Center for Quality of Life/Supportive Care Research, The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University Medical Center, P.O. Box 3624, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Stephen T. Keir, Ann Bebe Guill, Karen E. Carter & Henry S. Friedman

Authors
  1. Stephen T. Keir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ann Bebe Guill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Karen E. Carter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Henry S. Friedman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen T. Keir.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Keir, S.T., Guill, A.B., Carter, K.E. et al. Stress and intervention preferences of patients with brain tumors. Support Care Cancer 14, 1213–1219 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0087-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0087-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation