Self-Care for Lymphedema in Patients With Breast Cancer

Sponsor

Vanderbilt University (Other)

Overall Status

Completed

CT.gov ID

NCT00670644

Collaborator

National Cancer Institute (NCI) (NIH)

Enrollment

Locations

Duration (Months)

Patients Per Site

0.3

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

RATIONALE: Identifying why patients don't do self care for lymphedema may help doctors plan better at-home self-care treatment.

PURPOSE: This research study is looking at self-care practices for lymphedema in patients with breast cancer.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Breast Cancer	Other: questionnaire administration Other: survey administration Procedure: quality-of-life assessment

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

To systematically identify and describe the barriers to completing recommended at home self-care of lymphedema in patients with breast cancer.
To identify patient recalled instructions as to at home self-care practices for lymphedema as told to them by healthcare professionals and others.
To identify the current at home self-care practices of breast cancer survivors with treatment treated lymphedema.

Secondary

To examine the relationship between at home self-care activities and symptoms in breast cancer survivors with lymphedema.
To examine the relationship between at home self-care activities and quality of life in breast cancer survivors with lymphedema.
To identify patient-perceived benefits to at home self-care.

OUTLINE: Patients complete questionnaires about their breast cancer diagnosis and treatment history, lymphedema history and problems, and years of education and income. Patients also complete surveys about home self-care practices for lymphedema and any benefits, burdens, or barriers of at home care.

Study Design

Study Type:

Observational

Actual Enrollment :

51 participants

Observational Model:

Cohort

Time Perspective:

Prospective

Official Title:

Breast Cancer Treatment Related Lymphedema Self Care Practices

Study Start Date :

May 1, 2006

Actual Primary Completion Date :

May 1, 2007

Actual Study Completion Date :

Mar 1, 2011

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Identification and description of barriers to completing recommended at home self-care of lymphedema [one time only for approximately 15 minutes]
Identification of patients recalled instructions as to at home self-care practices for lymphedema as told to them by healthcare professionals and others [one time only for approximately 15 minutes]
Identification of current at home self-care practices for lymphedema [one time only for approximately 15 minutes]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Relationship between at home self-care activities, symptoms, and quality of life in breast cancer survivors with lymphedema [one time only for approximately 15 minutes]
Identification of patient-perceived benefits to at home self-care [one time only for approximately 15 minutes]

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 120 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:

Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

History of breast cancer
Lymphedema in one or both arms that occurred during or after breast cancer treatment
Must have received prior lymphedema treatment by a healthcare professional
Patients with self-reported arm swelling subsequent to breast cancer treatment that has not been treated by a healthcare professional are not eligible
Hormone receptor status not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Menopausal status not specified
English speaking

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

See Disease Characteristics

Contacts and Locations

Locations

	Site	City	State	Country	Postal Code
1	Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center - Cool Springs	Nashville	Tennessee	United States	37064
2	Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center at Franklin	Nashville	Tennessee	United States	37064
3	Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center	Nashville	Tennessee	United States	37232-6838