Skip to main content
construction release_alert
The Scholars Team is working with OIT to resolve some issues with the Scholars search index
cancel
Journal cover image

Correlates of quality of life-related outcomes in breast cancer patients participating in the Pathfinders pilot study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Smith, SK; Herndon, JE; Lyerly, HK; Coan, A; Wheeler, JL; Staley, T; Abernethy, AP
Published in: Psychooncology
May 2011

OBJECTIVE: In a pilot study, participation in the Pathfinders program was associated with reductions in distress and despair and improvements in quality of life (QOL) among advanced breast cancer patients. This study explores the relationship between psychosocial resources invoked through the Pathfinders intervention and outcomes. METHODS: Advanced breast cancer patients were enrolled in a prospective, single-arm, pilot study of the Pathfinders psychosocial program. Participants met at least monthly with a licensed clinical social worker who administered the Pathfinders intervention, which focused on strengthening adaptive coping skills, identifying inner strengths, and developing a self-care plan. Longitudinal assessments over 6 months used validated instruments to assess changes in Pathfinders targets (coping, social support, self-efficacy, spirituality, and optimism) and outcomes (distress, despair, QOL, and fatigue). Multiple linear regression models examined the joint effect of average changes in target subscales on average outcome changes, adjusted for baseline outcome scores and patient characteristics. RESULTS: Participants (n=44) were: mean age 51 (SD, 12), 20% non-Caucasian, 50% college degree, and 75% married. Improvements in active coping skills, self-efficacy, and spiritual meaning/peace significantly correlated with an improvement in despair after adjustment for demographic characteristics (all P<0.05). Improvements in social support significantly correlated with positive changes in distress (P<0.05). Gains in learned optimism independently correlated with an increase in overall QOL (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot assessment, changes in pre-defined Pathfinders targets such as coping skills, social support, self-efficacy, spirituality, and optimism correlated with improvements in patient-reported outcomes.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Psychooncology

DOI

EISSN

1099-1611

Publication Date

May 2011

Volume

20

Issue

5

Start / End Page

559 / 564

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Spirituality
  • Social Support
  • Self Efficacy
  • Quality of Life
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pilot Projects
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Middle Aged
  • Linear Models
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Smith, S. K., Herndon, J. E., Lyerly, H. K., Coan, A., Wheeler, J. L., Staley, T., & Abernethy, A. P. (2011). Correlates of quality of life-related outcomes in breast cancer patients participating in the Pathfinders pilot study. Psychooncology, 20(5), 559–564. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1770
Smith, Sophia K., James E. Herndon, H Kim Lyerly, April Coan, Jane L. Wheeler, Tina Staley, and Amy P. Abernethy. “Correlates of quality of life-related outcomes in breast cancer patients participating in the Pathfinders pilot study.Psychooncology 20, no. 5 (May 2011): 559–64. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1770.
Smith SK, Herndon JE, Lyerly HK, Coan A, Wheeler JL, Staley T, et al. Correlates of quality of life-related outcomes in breast cancer patients participating in the Pathfinders pilot study. Psychooncology. 2011 May;20(5):559–64.
Smith, Sophia K., et al. “Correlates of quality of life-related outcomes in breast cancer patients participating in the Pathfinders pilot study.Psychooncology, vol. 20, no. 5, May 2011, pp. 559–64. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/pon.1770.
Smith SK, Herndon JE, Lyerly HK, Coan A, Wheeler JL, Staley T, Abernethy AP. Correlates of quality of life-related outcomes in breast cancer patients participating in the Pathfinders pilot study. Psychooncology. 2011 May;20(5):559–564.
Journal cover image

Published In

Psychooncology

DOI

EISSN

1099-1611

Publication Date

May 2011

Volume

20

Issue

5

Start / End Page

559 / 564

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Spirituality
  • Social Support
  • Self Efficacy
  • Quality of Life
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pilot Projects
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Middle Aged
  • Linear Models