BackgroundExpressive writing interventions are shown to confer physical and psychological benefits for Caucasian cancer survivors. This study evaluated the health benefits of an expressive writing intervention among breast cancer patients in mainland China.MethodsStage I-III Chinese breast cancer survivors undergoing chemotherapy were recruited in Shanghai, China. They (n=90) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: a positive thinking group (PTC) to write about the positive aspects of their cancer experience; a self-regulation condition (SRC) to write about their stress and coping efforts, deepest feelings, and positive aspects of their cancer experience; or a cancer-fact group (CFC) to write about facts relevant to their cancer experience. All groups wrote for 30min every week for 4weeks. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the FACT-B at baseline and 1- and 2-month follow-ups. Linear mixed effects models were used to test the hypotheses that the SRC and PTC would improve QOL compared to the CFC.ResultsQOL improved overtime in the whole sample. Contrary to hypotheses, the CFC had increased QOL compared with the SRC from baseline to both the 1- and 2-month follow-ups (QOL=9.31, p=0.01, d=0.44; QOL=9.45, p=0.025, d=0.49). The PTC did not differ from cancer-fact writing but had increased QOL compared with the SRC from baseline to both the 1- and 2-month follow-ups (QOL=7.44, p=0.04, d=0.35; QOL=11.72, p=0.06, d=0.61).ConclusionInterventions through expressive writing about positive experience and cancer facts are feasible and can benefit Chinese cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
[1]Univ Texas MD Anderson Canc Ctr, Dept Hlth Dispar Res, Houston, TX 77030 USA;
[2]Univ Houston, Dept Psychol, Houston, TX USA;
[3]Shanghai Univ Tradit Chinese Med, Sch Nursing, Shanghai, Peoples R China;
[4]Wuhan Univ, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China;
[5]Fudan Univ, Shanghai Canc Ctr, Breast Canc Unit, Shanghai, Peoples R China;
[6]Fudan Univ, Sch Nursing, Shanghai, Peoples R China
(8.0+极速模式)