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Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2020 Aug 9. doi: 10.1007/s10549-020-05859-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To define the prevalence and risk factors of anxiety and examine rates and predictors of psychotherapy and integrative medicine service use in breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors (AIs).

METHODS: Observational study of patients with histologically confirmed stage 0-III hormone receptor-positive breast cancer taking a third-generation AI at the time of enrollment. Patients completed self-report measures of anxiety and utilization of psychotherapy and integrative medicine services at a single time-point. We used multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with anxiety and receipt of anxiety treatment services.

RESULTS: Among the 1085 participants, the majority were younger than 65 years of age (n = 673, 62.0%) and white (n = 899, 82.9%). Approximately one-third (30.8%) reported elevated anxiety ( 8 on the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Of patients with elevated anxiety, only 24.6% reported receiving psychological counseling, 25.3% used integrative medicine services, and 39.8% received either type of treatment since their diagnosis. Patients with an education level of high school or less were less likely to receive psychological counseling (AOR, 0.43, 95% CI 0.19-0.95) and integrative medicine services (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.12-0.72) than patients with higher levels of education.

CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety is common in breast cancer patients treated with AIs yet the majority of anxious patients do not receive evidence-based treatment, even when these treatments are available. Better systematic anxiety screening and treatment initiation are needed to reduce disparities in care by education level.

PMID:32772224 | DOI:10.1007/s10549-020-05859-0

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Receipt of psychological counseling and integrative medicine services among breast cancer survivors with anxiety - DocWire News