Date of Award
2001
Publication Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
M.Sc.
Department
Nursing
Keywords
Health Sciences, Nursing.
Supervisor
Cameron, S.
Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
This study examined how stressors and coping resources influenced quality of life in women with metastatic breast cancer who had received an autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant as treatment for their disease. Lazarus and Folkman's(1984) stress/adaptation model was used to guide this prospective study. Perceived stress appraisal, symptom distress, optimism, and social support were measured to determine if they predicted the breast cancer patient's quality of life, prior to and following an autologous, peripheral blood stem cell transplant. Twenty-seven women with metastatic breast cancer Stage II--IV participated in the study and completed questionnaires at three time periods. The stressors and coping resources did not predict QOL when entered into a hierarchical regression model, probably due to the small sample size. However, there were significant correlations between stressors, coping resources and adaptation (QOL). Women with breast cancer reported low perceived stress appraisal, low symptom distress, more optimism and more social support when they reported higher levels of QOL prior to transplant. Following transplant the pattern continued for all variables except social support. It was also clearly evident that the one month post-transplant time period was most difficult for the women when they reported the highest stress appraisal and highest symptom distress, but by month three the women were reporting lower stress appraisal, less symptom distress, more optimism and improved quality of life. Implications for nursing practice are discussed. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2001 .D35. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 40-03, page: 0678. Adviser: Sheila Cameron. Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2001.
Recommended Citation
Dales, Christina Michelle., "Adaptation to breast cancer following an autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant: A prospective study." (2001). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 888.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/888