Abstract
Background. Diagnosis of ovarian cancer often portends a poor prognosis with significant quality-of-life (QOL) concerns. Method. We report on a pilot study that tested the feasibility of a structured, ovarian cancer psychoeducational intervention (OCPI). Patients (N=33) were randomly assigned to either the control or OCPI study arms in which those in the intervention arm received 4 sequential, structured, in-person educational sessions. Data were collected at the time of accrual and at 1 and 3 months postaccrual. Results. This study demonstrated the feasibility of a structured psychoeducational program in an outpatient clinical setting. Conclusion. Study findings underscore the importance of developing interventions that address the 4 QOL domains impacted by ovarian cancer and support initiating a comprehensive psychoeducational intervention earlier in the course of illness.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Jemal A, Siegel R, Ward E, et al. Cancer Statistics, 2007. CA Cancer J Clin. 2007:57:43–66.
Markman M. Management of ovarian cancer. An impressive history improvement in survival and quality of life. Oncology (Williston Park) 2006;20:347–354; 357–358, 364.
Jemal A, Murray T, Samuels A, et al. Cancer Statistics, 2003. CA Cancer J Clin. 2003;53:5–26.
McQuellon RP, Loggie BW, Lehman AB, et al. Long-term survivorship and quality of life after cytoreductive surgery plus intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis. Ann Surg Oncol. 2003;10:155–162.
Wenzel LB, Huang HQ, Armstrong DK, et al. Health-related quality of life during and after intraperitoneal versus intravenous chemotherapy for optimally debulked ovarian cancer: a Gynecologic Oncology Group Study. J Clin Oncol. 2007;25:437–443.
Hess L, Alberts D. The role of intraperitoneal therapy in advanced ovarian cancer. Oncology 2007;21:227–232.
Armstrong DK, Brady MF. Intraperitoneal therapy for ovarian cancer: a treatment ready for prime time. J Clin Oncol. 2006;24:4531–4533.
Ferrell BR, Smith SL, Cullinane CA, et al. Psychological well being and quality of life in ovarian cancer survivors. Cancer. 2003b;98:1061–1071.
Howell D, Fitch MI, Deane KA. Women’s experiences with recurrent ovarian cancer. Cancer Nurs. 2003;26:10–17.
Maughan K. Specific keynote: in the shadow of illness-supporting women with ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol. 2003;88(pt 2):S129-S133, S134–S135.
Swenson MM, MacLeod JS, Williams SD, et al. Quality of living among ovarian germ cell cancer survivors: a narrative analysis. Oncol Nurs Forum [serial online]. 2003;30(3):380. Available from: Oncology Nursing Society: http://www.ons.org/publications/journals/ONF/Volume30/Issue3/300338.aspAccessed November 4, 2008.
Wenzel LB, Donnelly JP, Fowler JM, et al. Resilience, reflection, and residual stress in ovarian cancer survivorship: a gynecologic oncology group study. Psycho-oncology 2002;11:142–153.
Tannock IF, Ahles TA, Ganz PA, et al. Cognitive impairments associated with chemotherapy for cancer: report of a workshop. J Clin Oncol. 2004;22:2233–2239.
Doyle C, Crump M, Pintilie M, et al. Does palliative chemotherapy palliated: evaluation of expectations, outcomes, and costs in women receiving chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2001;19:1266–1274.
Lakusta CM, Atkinson MJ, Robinson JW, et al. Quality of life in ovarian cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Gynecol Oncol. 2001;81:490–495.
Fitch MI, Gray RE, Franssen E. Women’s perspectives regarding the impact of ovarian cancer: implications for nursing. Cancer Nurs. 2000;23:359–366.
Ferrell BR, Smith SL, Cullinane CA, et al. Symptom concerns of women with ovarian cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2003a; 25:528–538
Ersek M, Ferrell BR, Dow KH, et al. Quality of life in women with ovarian cancer. West J Nurs Res. 1997;19:334–350.
Anderson B. Quality of life in progressive ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol. 1994;55 (Pt 2):S151-S155.
Carroll-Johnson RM, Gorman LM, Bush NJ. Psychological Nursing Care Along the Cancer Continuum. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Press; 1998.
Hamilton AB. Psychological aspects of ovarian cancer. Cancer Invest, 1999;17:335–341.
National Institute of Health. Consensus Development Conference Statement. Ovarian cancer: screening, treatment, and follow-up. Gynecol Oncol. 1994;55(pt 2):S4-S14.
Lutgendorf SK, Anderson B, Ullrich P, et al. Quality of life and mood in women with gynecologic cancer: a one year prospective study. Cancer. 2002;94:131–140.
Houck K, Avis NE, Gallant JM, et al. Quality of life in advanced ovarian cancer: identifying specific concerns. J Palliat Med. 1999;2:397–402.
Weitzel J, MacDonald, DJ. Genetic testing for ovarian cancer. Qual Life Res. 1998;6:101–108.
Di Prospero LS, Seminsky M, Honeyford J, et al. Psychosocial issues-following a positive result of genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations: findings from a focus group and a needs-assessment survey. Can Med Assoc J. 2001;164:1005–1009.
Ferrell BR, Grant M, Funk B, et al. Quality of life in breast cancer survivors: implications for developing support services. Oncol Nurs Forum. 1998;25:887–895.
Ferrell BR, Grant M, Funk B, et al. Quality of life in breast cancer survivors as identified by focus groups. Psycho-oncology. 1997;6:13–23.
Hallowell N. A qualitative study of the information needs of high-risk women undergoing prophylactic oophorectomy. Psycho-oncology. 2000;9:486–495.
Meiser B, Tiller K, Glesson MA, et al. Psychological impact of prophylactic oophorectomy in women at increased risk for ovarian cancer. Psycho-oncology. 2000;9:496–503.
Ferrell BR, Grant M, Funk B, et al. Quality of life in breast cancer. Part II: psychological and spiritual well being. Cancer Nurs 1997;21:1–9.
Kemp C. Spiritual care interventions. In: Ferrell B, Coyle N, eds. Textbook of Palliative Nursing. New York, NY: Oxford University Press;2001:407–414.
Brown-Saltzman KA. Tending the spirit. Oncol Nurs Forum. 1994;21:1001–1006.
Burton LA. The spiritual dimension of palliative care. Semin Oncol Nurs. 1998;14:121–128.
Dow KH, Ferrell BR, Haberman MR, et al. The meaning of quality of life in cancer survivorship. Oncol Nurs Forum 1999;26:519–528.
Ferrell BR, Smith SL, Juarez G, et al. Meaning of illness and spirituality in ovarian cancer survivors. Oncol Nurs Forum 2003d;30(2):249–257.
Payne DK, Massie MJ. Depression and anxiety. In: Berger A, Portenoy RK, Weisman DE, eds. Supportive Oncology: Philadelphia, PA: Lippencott-Raven; 1998:497–512.
Fry A, Busby-Earle C, Rush R, et al. Prophylactic oophorectomy versus screening: psychosocial outcomes in women at increased risk of ovarian cancer. Psycho-oncology 2001;10:231–241.
Hughes C, Lerman C, Schwartz M, et al. All in the family: evaluation of the process and content of sisters’ communication about BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic test results. Am J Med Genet. 2002;107:143–150.
Ferrell BR, Smith SL, Ervin KS, et al. A qualitative analysis of social concerns of women with ovarian cancer. Psycho-oncology. 2003c;12:647–663.
Ferrell BR, Cullinane CA, Ervine K, et al. Perspectives on the impact of ovarian cancer: women’s views of quality of life. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2005;32(6):1143–1149.
Ferrell BR, Dow KH, Grant M. Measurement of the quality of life in cancer survivors. Qual Life Res 1995;4:523–531.
Mishel MH, Sorenson DS. Uncertainty in gynecological cancer: a test of the mediating functions of mastery and coping. Nurs Res. 1991;40:167–171.
Donovan KA, Jacobsen PB, Holland JC, et al. Psychometric properties and correlates of Distress Thermometer Scores. Psycho-oncology. 2004;13:S16.
Mishel MH. The measurement of uncertainty in illness. Nurs Res. 1981;30:258–263.
Mishel MH. Uncertainty in illness. Image J Nurs Sch. 1988;20:225–232.
Mishel MH, Braden CJ. Finding meaning: antecedents of uncertainty in illness. Nurs Res. 1988;37:98–103.
Mishel M. Uncertainty in Illness Scales Manual. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina; 1997.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Supported by a research grant from the Oncology Nursing Foundation.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Otis-Green, S., Ferrell, B., Sun, V. et al. Feasibility of an ovarian cancer quality-of-life psychoeducational intervention. J Canc Educ 23, 214–221 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1080/08858190802188784
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08858190802188784