Cultural Adaptation of the Younger Women's Wellness After Cancer Program for Younger Chinese Women With Breast Cancer: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Dorothy Ngo Sheung Chan; Ka Ming Chow; Debra Jane Anderson; Janine Porter-Steele; Bobbi Laing; Wai Man Ling; Carol Choi Hung Lam; Kai Chow Choi; Carmen Wing Han Chan; Winnie Kwok Wei So; Alexandra Leigh McCarthy

doi:10.1097/NCC.0000000000001210

Cultural Adaptation of the Younger Women's Wellness After Cancer Program for Younger Chinese Women With Breast Cancer: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Cancer Nurs. 2023 Feb 4. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001210. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Dorothy Ngo Sheung Chan¹, Ka Ming Chow, Debra Jane Anderson, Janine Porter-Steele, Bobbi Laing, Wai Man Ling, Carol Choi Hung Lam, Kai Chow Choi, Carmen Wing Han Chan, Winnie Kwok Wei So, Alexandra Leigh McCarthy

Affiliation

¹ Author Affiliations: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China (Drs Chan, Chow, Choi, Chan, and So); Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia (Dr Anderson); The Wesley Hospital, Brisbane, Australia (Dr Porter-Steele); School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Queensland and Mater Health Services, Brisbane, Australia (Drs Porter-Steele and McCarthy); Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand (Dr Laing); and Department of Clinical Oncology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China (Mr Ling and Ms Lam).

PMID: 36737859
DOI: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001210

Abstract

Background: The incidence of breast cancer in younger women, that is, aged 50 years or younger, in Hong Kong is increasing. The Internet-based Younger Women's Wellness After Cancer Program (YWWACP) is a whole-lifestyle intervention that can help young women to manage their health and risks of chronic diseases.

Objectives: The study aimed to test the acceptability and feasibility of the culturally adapted YWWACP in Hong Kong (YWWACPHK) and to evaluate its preliminary effects in improving health-related quality of life, distress, sexual function, menopausal symptoms, dietary intake, physical activity, and sleep among younger Chinese women with breast cancer.

Intervention/methods: Women aged 18 to 50 years with breast cancer were recruited from an oncology outpatient department. The participants in the intervention group received the 12-week YWWACPHK, whereas the control group received standard care.

Results: Sixty women consented to participate. At 12 weeks after intervention completion, the intervention group showed a significant increase in the pain subscale scores of sexual function and more improvement in the level of physical activity than the control group, with Hedge g effect sizes 0.66 and 0.65, respectively. Nineteen intervention group participants reported that they were satisfied with the program and suggestions for improvement were provided.

Conclusion: The implementation of YWWACPHK is feasible. The preliminary findings suggest that YWWACPHK could increase the level of physical activity among the participants.

Implications for practice: Nurses could utilize YWWACPHK to support younger Chinese patients with breast cancer to maintain a healthy lifestyle, subject to wider confirmation of these results through a larger study.