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Experiences of rehabilitation one year after breast cancer diagnosis-A focus group study from the ReScreen randomized controlled trial

Olsson, Ing-Marie LU ; Dykes, Charlotta LU ; Rydén, Lisa LU orcid ; Olsson-Möller, Ulrika LU and Malmström, Marlene LU orcid (2025) In PLoS ONE 20(2). p.1-18
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Treatment for breast cancer poses major challenges and leads to a variety of side-effects and problems that affect life for a long time. Experiences and symptoms vary, and research indicates a lack of structures for ensuring individualized rehabilitation. This qualitative focus group study aims to explore the experience of women with BC after participating in a complex randomized controlled trial (RCT) (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03434717) focusing on cancer rehabilitation from a comprehensive perspective.

METHOD: Nine semi-structured focus group interviews with women (n = 30) who participated in the Rescreen RCT were conducted. The women were interviewed divided into three RCT groups (intervention, control, or observation... (More)

BACKGROUND: Treatment for breast cancer poses major challenges and leads to a variety of side-effects and problems that affect life for a long time. Experiences and symptoms vary, and research indicates a lack of structures for ensuring individualized rehabilitation. This qualitative focus group study aims to explore the experience of women with BC after participating in a complex randomized controlled trial (RCT) (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03434717) focusing on cancer rehabilitation from a comprehensive perspective.

METHOD: Nine semi-structured focus group interviews with women (n = 30) who participated in the Rescreen RCT were conducted. The women were interviewed divided into three RCT groups (intervention, control, or observation group). Data were initially analyzed inductively using conventional content analysis, followed by a deductive approach, guided by the result from the inductive analysis.

RESULTS: The inductive analysis resulted in two categories and four sub-categories and showed a great variation in experiences and needs. Some women described a well-functioning process, while others described lack of individualized information, continuity with healthcare providers, and clear pathways for support. After the deductive analysis, a variation between the groups appeared. Women in the intervention group expressed that a proactive and individualized approach facilitated rehabilitation and they experienced a feeling of being recognized as a person, which they highlighted as important. On the contrary, women from the control group described feelings of being abandoned from healthcare, hindering rehabilitation. The observation group expressed that their needs had been fulfilled within the healthcare system.

CONCLUSIONS: This study adds important knowledge to the evaluation of the ReScreen model and contributes to existing research on how individualized rehabilitation after breast cancer can be applied in clinical practice. A proactive, person-centered approach in rehabilitation, aimed at those with extended needs, would potentially optimize rehabilitation and facilitate the recovery process after breast cancer treatment.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Breast Cancer, Distress, Focus Groups, Rehabilitation, Qualitative Research, Quality of Life, person centered care
in
PLoS ONE
volume
20
issue
2
article number
e0315814
pages
1 - 18
publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
external identifiers
  • scopus:85218159178
  • pmid:39946344
ISSN
1932-6203
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0315814
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Copyright: © 2025 Olsson et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
id
96fc89d3-83b6-458a-bc20-6a5dca5cb481
date added to LUP
2025-02-17 08:09:38
date last changed
2025-08-15 14:45:55
@article{96fc89d3-83b6-458a-bc20-6a5dca5cb481,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Treatment for breast cancer poses major challenges and leads to a variety of side-effects and problems that affect life for a long time. Experiences and symptoms vary, and research indicates a lack of structures for ensuring individualized rehabilitation. This qualitative focus group study aims to explore the experience of women with BC after participating in a complex randomized controlled trial (RCT) (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03434717) focusing on cancer rehabilitation from a comprehensive perspective.</p><p>METHOD: Nine semi-structured focus group interviews with women (n = 30) who participated in the Rescreen RCT were conducted. The women were interviewed divided into three RCT groups (intervention, control, or observation group). Data were initially analyzed inductively using conventional content analysis, followed by a deductive approach, guided by the result from the inductive analysis.</p><p>RESULTS: The inductive analysis resulted in two categories and four sub-categories and showed a great variation in experiences and needs. Some women described a well-functioning process, while others described lack of individualized information, continuity with healthcare providers, and clear pathways for support. After the deductive analysis, a variation between the groups appeared. Women in the intervention group expressed that a proactive and individualized approach facilitated rehabilitation and they experienced a feeling of being recognized as a person, which they highlighted as important. On the contrary, women from the control group described feelings of being abandoned from healthcare, hindering rehabilitation. The observation group expressed that their needs had been fulfilled within the healthcare system.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: This study adds important knowledge to the evaluation of the ReScreen model and contributes to existing research on how individualized rehabilitation after breast cancer can be applied in clinical practice. A proactive, person-centered approach in rehabilitation, aimed at those with extended needs, would potentially optimize rehabilitation and facilitate the recovery process after breast cancer treatment.</p>}},
  author       = {{Olsson, Ing-Marie and Dykes, Charlotta and Rydén, Lisa and Olsson-Möller, Ulrika and Malmström, Marlene}},
  issn         = {{1932-6203}},
  keywords     = {{Breast Cancer; Distress; Focus Groups; Rehabilitation; Qualitative Research; Quality of Life; person centered care}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{1--18}},
  publisher    = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
  series       = {{PLoS ONE}},
  title        = {{Experiences of rehabilitation one year after breast cancer diagnosis-A focus group study from the ReScreen randomized controlled trial}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0315814}},
  doi          = {{10.1371/journal.pone.0315814}},
  volume       = {{20}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}