Older women, especially those over age 75, are the fastest growing segment of the population. Many of these women will be living with breast cancer because the incidence of this disease increases with age. Unfortunately, the research on adaptation to illness, symptom management, and quality of life of women with breast cancer has focused on woman under 65. Unlike younger women, older women with BC experience symptoms of their disease and its treatment concurrent with symptoms of age-related chronic illnesses. Thus, they are faced with the unique challenge of sorting out and managing a variety of complex and sometimes confusing symptoms. We propose to test an individualized representational intervention (IRIS) to improve symptom management and quality of life in older women with breast cancer. The theoretical basis of the intervention is Leventhal's Common Sense Model, with the addition of strategies for conceptual change. Leventhal's Common Sense Model suggests that individuals' representations of their symptoms are critical determinants of how they cope with them. By addressing women's representations, we hope to change beliefs that interfere w3ith adequate symptom management, assist women in developing individualized, effective symptom management strategies and thereby improve quality of life. Participants in this study will be women aged 65 and older who are at least one year post-diagnosis of BC. They will be randomized to one of three conditions: a representational intervention (IRIS) delivered by an advanced practice nurse in a counseling interview, an attention-only control group, or usual care. Measures of symptom distress, helpfulness of symptom management activities, and quality of life will be taken at baseline, six weeks and ten weeks post intervention. We predict that IRIS will improve symptom management, which will in turn improve quality of life for older women with breast cancer.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Type
James A. Shannon Director's Award (R55)
Project #
1R55NR007741-01
Application #
6493166
Study Section
Nursing Research Study Section (NURS)
Program Officer
Hare, Martha L
Project Start
2001-09-30
Project End
2004-09-29
Budget Start
2001-09-30
Budget End
2004-09-29
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$100,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Heidrich, Susan M; Brown, Roger L; Egan, Judith J et al. (2009) An individualized representational intervention to improve symptom management (IRIS) in older breast cancer survivors: three pilot studies. Oncol Nurs Forum 36:E133-43
Yeom, Hyun-e; Heidrich, Susan M (2009) Effect of perceived barriers to symptom management on quality of life in older breast cancer survivors. Cancer Nurs 32:309-16
Royer, Heather Rhea; Phelan, Cynthia H; Heidrich, Susan M (2009) Older breast cancer survivors' symptom beliefs. Oncol Nurs Forum 36:463-70