Proposal for an instrument for the detection of strategic optimism in breast cancer

Abstract

Objective: To elaborate an instrument that allows us to evaluate some cognitive strategies that would be part of the optimistic people facing a health difficulty such as breast cancer. Method: 96 patients, 30 of them were in a breast cancer free interval phase, 35 were receiving active treatment for breast cancer and 31 patients had a diagnosis of adaptive disorder with no oncological medical history. The cognitive mechanisms of the instrument have been compared to evaluate the strategic optimism among the three health conditions. The factorial analysis of the instrument has been carried out and its relationship with variables such as quality of life and dispositional optimism in each group has been observed. Results: The factor analysis shows four components of the total items of strategic optimism: 1) Expectations of positive results and perception of control in front of health difficulties; 2) Positive evaluation of the past in the current health moment; 3) Benefit finding in the wake of the disease; and 4) Responsibility/guilt for the current health situation. The total variance explained by the factors is 70.67%. The factors of strategic optimism would be related to a better quality of life of patients (p <0.01; r = 0.591), showing distinct relationships depending on the severity of the medical situation. Conclusion: The provided instrument to assess strategic optimism allows the identification of specific thoughts related to the maintenance of the quality of life in breast cancer, which may be useful in supportive therapies.