Background/objectiveThe impact a cancer diagnosis and its treatment are affected by psychosocial factors and how these factors interrelate among themselves. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between optimism and social support in spiritual wellbeing in cancer patients initiating chemotherapy. MethodsA cross-sectional, multi-center (15 sites), prospective study was conducted with 912 cancer patients who had undergone curative surgery for a stage I-III cancer and were to receive adjuvant chemotherapy. They completed the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness-Spiritual Well-being Scale (FACIT-Sp), Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS).

Background Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in women. Prevention and treatments have lowered mortality; nevertheless, the impact of the diagnosis and treatment continue to impact all aspects of patients’ lives (physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual). Objective This study seeks to explore the experiences of the different stages women with breast cancer go through by means of a patient journey. Methods This is a qualitative study in which 21 women with breast cancer or survivors were interviewed. Participants were recruited at 9 large hospitals in Spain and intentional sampling methods were applied. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview that was elaborated with the help of medical oncologists, nurses, and psycho-oncologists. Data were processed by adopting a thematic analysis approach. Results The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer entails a radical change in patients’ day-to-day that linger in the mid-term. Seven stages have been defined that correspond to the different medical processes: diagnosis/unmasking stage, surgery/cleaning out, chemotherapy/loss of identity, radiotherapy/transition to normality, follow-up care/the “new” day-to-day, relapse/starting over, and metastatic/time-limited chronic breast cancer. The most relevant aspects of each are highlighted, as are the various cross-sectional aspects that manifest throughout the entire patient journey. Conclusions Comprehending patients’ experiences in depth facilitates the detection of situations of risk and helps to identify key moments when more precise information should be offered. Similarly, preparing the women for the process they must confront and for the sequelae of medical treatments would contribute to decreasing their uncertainty and concern, and to improving their quality-of-life.

Background The current cancer care system must be improved if we are to have in-depth knowledge about breast cancer patients’ experiences throughout all the stages of their disease. Aim This study seeks to describe breast cancer patients’ experience over the course of the various stages of illness by means of a journey model. Methods This is a qualitative descriptive study. Individual, semi-structured interviews will be administered to women with breast cancer and breast cancer survivors. Patients will be recruited from nine large hospitals in Spain and intentional sampling will be used. Data will be collected by means of a semi-structured interview that was elaborated with the help of medical oncologists, nurses, and psycho-oncologists. Data will be processed adopting a thematic analysis approach. Discussion The outcomes of this study will afford new insights into breast cancer patients’ experiences, providing guidance to improve the care given to these individuals. This protocol aims to describe the journey of patients with breast cancer through the healthcare system to establish baseline data that will serve as the basis for the development and implementation of a patient-centered, evidence-based clinical pathway.

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Involvement in social and community activities has been identified as a key factor in health and well-being. This paper focuses on the health and well-being benefits of a particular type of group involvement: associative participation. The main aim is to identify the type of participation that brings more benefits to the members. Based on previous research, we expect that health and well-being would be higher when there is engagement with the association, when group involvement is more intense and when the type of group involvement is deeper (voluntary work or associative leadership). An 848-individuals sample, recruited from Portugal, Spain and Brazil, responded to an online survey disseminated mainly through associations. Findings show that participation in the associative movement is positively associated with the mental health, physical health and well-being of the associates, but that this effect is only evident for more involved types of participation. Our results suggest that the quality of involvement is associated with a positive outcome: participating in the activities, doing voluntary work or serving as an associative leader. RESUMENLa participación en actividades sociales y comunitarias ha sido identificada como un factor clave en la salud y el bienestar. Este artículo se centra en los beneficios en términos de salud y bienestar de un tipo concreto de participación grupal: la participación asociativa. Su principal objetivo es identificar el tipo de participación que produce mayores beneficios a sus miembros. Basándonos en investigaciones previas, anticipamos que el nivel de salud y bienestar será mayor cuando existe participación en la asociación, cuando la participación es más intensa y cuando el tipo de participación grupal es más comprometido (trabajo voluntario o liderazgo asociativo). Un total de 848 personas reclutadas en Portugal, España y Brasil respondieron un cuestionario en línea distribuido principalmente a través de asociaciones. Los resultados muestran que la participación en el movimiento asociativo se relaciona positivamente con la salud mental y física y con el bienestar de los asociados, pero estos efectos solo son evidentes ARTICLE HISTORY