The effect of problem solving therapy on breast cancer women

Abstract

Background: Women with breast cancer experience major problems. One counseling method improving mental health is problem solving therapy (PST). Since psychological wellbeing is a measure of mental health, individuals with poor psychological wellbeing are subject to depression and anxiety. Therefore, improvement of psychological wellbeing results in physical and mental health. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of problem solving therapy on the psychological wellbeing of women with breast cancer. Methods: This clinical trial was performed on 34 women affected with breast cancer. Convenience sampling was employed to collect samples in Shafa Speciality Hospital of Ahvaz, Iran (2017). Patients were randomly assigned into intervention (n = 17) and control group (n = 17). Problem solving therapy was applied in 8 ninety-minute sessions weekly. Data was gathered using the demographic questionnaire and Ryff ’s psychological wellbeing questionnaire, included 84 items. In a one-month follow-up study, the patients filled in Ryff’s psychological wellbeing questionnaire again. Results: The results of investigating the effect of group problem solving therapy on psychological wellbeing revealed that the average of psychological wellbeing of pretest, posttest and follow-up study of the weekly intervention group was 240.94 ± 4.84, 421 ± 11.11, and 429.52 ± 10.94, respectively. In fact, all scores showed an increase. However, the scores of the pretest and follow-up study of the control group showed no increase. The highest score belonged to environmental mastery dimension. The mean of environmental mastery of intervention group in pretest, posttest and follow-up study was 40.00 ± 4.18, 76.11 ± 2.54, and 77.05 ± 2.10, respectively. Therefore, problem solving therapy improves the psychological wellbeing of patients (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Problem Solving Therapy can be applied to improve psychological wellbeing of women with breast cancer.