Need for numbers: assessing cancer survivors' needs for personalized and generic statistical information.

Background: Statistical information (e.g., on long-term survival or side effects) may be valuable for healthcare providers to share with their patients to facilitate shared decision making on treatment options.

Risk factors of unmet needs among women with breast cancer in the post-treatment phase.

Objective: Unmet health care needs require additional care resources to achieve optimal patient well-being. In this nationwide study we examined associations between a number of risk factors and unmet needs after treatment among women with breast cancer, while taking into account their health care practices. We expected that more care use would be associated with lower levels of unmet needs.

Predictors of enduring clinical distress in women with breast cancer.

To date, little is known about enduring clinical distress as measured with the commonly used distress thermometer. We therefore used the distress thermometer to examine: (a) the prevalence of enduring clinical distress, distress-related problems, and subsequent wish for referral of women with breast cancer, and (b) sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial predictors of enduring clinical distress. The study had a multicenter, prospective, observational design.

Don't forget the dentist: Dental care use and needs of women with breast cancer.

Purpose: Patients with breast cancer may develop dental problems due to treatment. We examined the prevalence of their dental care use and needs, compared the prevalence of use with that of the general population, and examined which factors predict patients' dental care use.

Methods: Patients with primary breast cancer completed a questionnaire at 6 and 15 months post-diagnosis.

Predictors of Health Care Use of Women with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review.

The aim of this study was to identify predictors of health care use among women with breast cancer by conducting a systematic review. Potentially relevant studies were identified by searching the PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases. Also, backward and forward citation searches were performed.

Cancer in full-colour: use of a graphic novel to identify distress in women with breast cancer.

The graphic novel Cancer Vixen about breast cancer was used as an example to examine whether reading of graphic novels may enhance insight into illness experiences. Content analysis showed that the graphic novel depicts the full range of distress, by portraying practical, social, emotional, religious/spiritual and physical problems. Findings were illustrated with descriptions from the book.

Complementary and alternative medicine use of women with breast cancer: self-help CAM attracts other women than guided CAM therapies.

Objective: Examine stability of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) of breast cancer patients, reasons for CAM use, and sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological predictors of CAM use.

Methods: CAM use was assessed after adjuvant therapy and six months later. Following the CAM Healthcare Model, CAM use was divided into use of provider-directed (guided) and self-directed (self-help) CAM.