| Breast cancer presents physical, psychological, and spiritual challenges. The experience can also provide a variety of positive outcomes often referred to as posttraumatic growth (PTG). This study explored the experiences of 24 women with breast cancer who participated in a program known as Psychospiritual Integration and Transformation (PSIT). The average age of the participants was 53, with an average time since diagnosis of 20.65 months. The PSIT program offers breast cancer patients a unique combination of spiritual and psychological resources to help them meet their challenges. This research team administered the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual (FACIT-Sp-Ex), the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B), the Profile of Mood States (POMS), and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) to assess the physical, psychological, spiritual, and PTG experiences of the participants. The effect size of the study ranged from small to large. Multiple scales from all instruments had effect sizes above .31, the norm for psychosocial interventions with cancer populations. Results from the FACT-B, showed significant improvement (p < .01) on the Physical well-being, Emotional well-being, and Functional well-being subscales but not on the Social/Family well-being subscale. The POMS showed significant improvements on the Tension, Depression, Anger, and Fatigue subscales (p < .05); and on the Vigor and Total Mood Disturbance subscales (p < .01). There were no significant findings for the Concentration subscale. Significant improvements on the FACIT-Sp-Ex were found for Meaning/Peace and Spiritual well-being ( p < .01) subscales but not for the Faith subscale. The PTGI had significant improvements for the New possibilities (p < .01) and Personal strength (p < .05) subscales but not on the Relating to others, Spiritual Change, and Appreciation for life subscales. This feasibility study indicated improvements in physical, psychological, spiritual well-being, and forms of PTG and suggests the need for further research on PSIT. |
