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Comparison of the Effect of 2 Virtual Education Methods: Family-Based Versus Peer-Support on Perceived Stress and Stress Coping in Women With Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial Publisher



Oghli SS1 ; Sadeghi R1 ; Omranipour R2 ; Foroushani AR3 ; Ashoorkhani M1, 4 ; Tedadi Y1
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Breast Cancer Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Community-Based Participatory Research Center, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran Published:2024


Abstract

Background: Stress is an overwhelming feeling in patients with breast cancer (BC). However, The effect of virtual education has not been fully regulated. Hence, this study intends to compare the impact of 2 virtual education methods on perceived stress and stress coping in women with BC. Methods: A 3-armed randomized clinical trial was conducted among 315 women with BC who were referred to the Cancer Institute in Tehran. They were randomly assigned to 3 groups: (a) Family-based, receiving family-based training package; (b) peer-support, receiving peer-support educational package; and (c) control, receiving routine hospital care. Data were collected through demographic and disease characteristics, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS-21) questionnaires before and 3 months after the intervention. Results: The effect of the group factor after controlling the before-intervention scores in perceived stress, problem-oriented, emotion-oriented, and avoidance-oriented strategies were P < 0.0001, P = 0.015, P < 0.0001, and P = 0.111, respectively. Also, the effect of the confounding factor of BC disease stage in the dependent variables was P = 0.527, P = 0.275, P = 0.358, and P = 0.609, respectively. The effect size test showed that before the intervention, the mean scores of perceived stress, problem-oriented, emotionoriented, and avoidance-oriented strategies were 32.00 ± 7.03, 19.36 ± 4.68, 25.10 ± 5.90, and 17.65 ± 6.64 respectively, but after the intervention showed a decrease in mean scores of perceived stress, emotion-oriented, and avoidance strategies. Conclusion: What is vibrant in virtual family-based education is far more effective than peer support when problem-oriented coping increases. Conversely, reducing perceived stress in women with BC receiving enough information and family support should be considered. © Iran University of Medical Sciences