Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold-standard treatment for insomnia, which is common among breast cancer survivors (BCS). This pilot randomized controlled trial tested the first CBT-I intervention for Spanish-speaking BCS delivered using eHealth. Participants (N = 30) were Spanish-speaking BCS with insomnia symptoms recruited in Puerto Rico and randomized to a 6-week eHealth CBT-I group intervention or a waitlist control. Primary outcomes were acceptability (recruitment, treatment satisfaction) and feasibility (retention, attendance). Secondary outcomes were group differences in sleep outcomes post-treatment (i.e., insomnia symptoms, sleep disturbance, sleep efficiency). Recruitment (95%) and retention (97%) were excellent. All CBT-I participants (100%) attended ≥ 3 of 6 sessions. Satisfaction with CBT-I was acceptable. Post-intervention, there were medium to large group differences for average insomnia symptoms (
d
= 1.02), sleep disturbance (
d
= 1.25), and sleep efficiency (
d
= 0.77) favoring CBT-I. There were small/medium to medium/large group differences for the proportion of participants with clinically significant insomnia symptoms (
d
= 0.52), sleep disturbance (
d
= 0.67), and low sleep efficiency (
d
= 0.33) favoring CBT-I. Spanish-language eHealth CBT-I for BCS was acceptable and feasible and showed preliminary efficacy.
ClinicalTrials.gov TRN: NCT04101526 (Posted September 24, 2019).
Background
This study examined the use of psychosocial services (i.e. social work, psychiatric, psychological, and spiritual/pastoral services) among Latina and Non-Latina White breast cancer survivors.
Methods
Survivors who received treatment in a Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York completed a mailed questionnaire about interest in help for distress, and psychosocial service use. Descriptive and non-parametric statistics were used to explore ethnic differences in use of, and interest in, psychosocial services.
Results
Thirty three percent of breast cancer survivors reported needing mental health or psychosocial services after their cancer diagnosis (33% Latinas, 34% Whites); 34% of survivors discussed with their oncologist or cancer care provider their emotional problems or needs after the diagnosis (30% Latinas, 36% Whites). Only 40% of the survivors who reported needing services received a referral for psychosocial services (42% Latinas, 39% Whites). Sixty six percent of survivors who reported needing services had contact with a counselor or mental health professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker) after their diagnosis (57% Latinas, 71% Whites), and 61% of those needing services reported receiving psychosocial services (53% Latinas, 67% Whites). Whites were significantly more likely than Latinas to have contact with a social worker (33% vs. 17%, respectively) and to receive psychotropic medication (15% vs. 0%, respectively). However, Latinas were significantly more likely to receive spiritual counseling than Whites (11% vs. 3%, respectively).
Conclusion
Our study revealed gaps for both groups; however, the gaps differed by group. It is crucial to study and address potential differences in the psychosocial services availability, acceptability and help-seeking behaviors of ethnically diverse cancer patients and survivors.
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