Characterizing Beliefs About Breast Cancer and Comorbid Diabetes After Cancer Treatment.
Kimberly A Muellers, Sarah Prieto, Jenny J Lin
PMID 35191897WHAT IT FOUND
Older breast cancer survivors with diabetes compared the two illnesses by control and worry.
Some saw diabetes as permanent and more frightening; others saw cancer as uncontrollable. They also saw the illnesses as having different long-term consequences.
Key findings
01Most participants linked control and concern in opposite directions across the two illnesses.
02Participants generally saw diabetes as permanent, while breast cancer was often seen as short-term by women with earlier-stage or recent diagnoses.
03Two thirds of participants saw diabetes consequences as more severe than breast cancer consequences, often based on family experiences, while one third saw breast cancer as more severe.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This was a qualitative study of 19 women, so it describes beliefs rather than proving that any belief causes nonadherence or outcomes. Participants came from one urban hospital system, so views may not match survivors in other settings. The sample included only women with breast cancer and type 2 diabetes, not men, other cancers, or other chronic illnesses. Only 19 of 53 contacted people took part, so those who participated may differ from those who did not. Women with major cognitive impairment or unable to travel were excluded.
Declared interests
The article text does not report a conflict of interest statement. The supplied metadata lists NIH extramural research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that discussing these beliefs will improve diabetes control or cancer self-management. The study describes 19 women's views and did not test an intervention or measure outcomes.