In the treatment of early stage breast cancer, both mastectomy and lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy have been recognized as having similar survival rates. Increasingly, women are being given the opportunity to choose which of these surgical treatment options they wish to pursue. Decisions tend to be made rather quickly, and some women may later regret their treatment choice. In this study, an instrument (Breast Cancer Treatment Inventory (BCTI)) was developed that identified five primary sources of influence that affect women's breast cancer treatment decisions: cosmetic outcome, preparedness, physician's choice, short-term effects, and long-term effects. Items were generated and refined by oncology professionals and breast cancer survivors, followed by a pilot study conducted with members of a breast cancer support group. The resulting 28-item scale was completed by 139 early stage breast cancer patients. A series of oblique factor analyses yielded a five-factor solution with reliabilities ranging from .66 - .87. Content validity was enhanced by involving oncology experts and women with breast cancer in the item generation procedures. Use of the BCTI may assist women through a methodical and effective decision-making process. The BCTI may also be appropriate for research studiesinvolving the process and prediction of treatment selection since it meets requirements for ease of administration, brevity, reliability, and validity. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/175897 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Donaghy, Kathleen B. |
| Contributors | Nicholas, Donald R. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | 160 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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