The Effect of Hope Therapy-based Training on the Happiness of Women with Breast Cancer: A Quasi-experimental Study

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of cancer and its psychological consequences has increased steadily in recent decades. Hence, parallel to providing medical interventions, psychological therapies should be provided to cancer patients. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the effect of hope therapy-based training on the happiness of women with breast cancer. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 100 female patients with breast cancer admitted to the chemotherapy wards of two hospitals affiliated to the Zahedan University of Medical Sciences (Iran) in 2020 are studied. Participants were selected using the convenience sampling technique and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control (each with 50 subjects). The intervention group received eight sessions of group-based hope therapy training. Data were collected using a demographic information form and the Oxford Happiness questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 by chi-square, independent samples t-test, and paired samples t-test, at a significant level of P < 0.05. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups concerning demographic characteristics. The independent samples t-test showed no significant difference in the mean scores of happiness between the two groups before the intervention (P = 0.55). However, the mean score of happiness for the participants in the intervention group showed a significant increase after providing the intervention compared to the control group (P = 0.001). Besides, the paired samples t-test indicated a significant increase in the mean score of happiness after providing the intervention compared to before intervention (P = 0.001), while the mean score of happiness for the participants in the control group showed a statistically significant decrease (P = 0.004). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that hope therapy-based training is effective for the happiness of women with breast cancer. Since physical and psychological problems caused by cancer lead to sadness and reduced happiness, hope therapy can be added to the care programs for women with cancer undergoing chemotherapy.