Feasibility and effect of a guided self-disclosure intervention designed to facilitate benefit finding in breast cancer patients: A pilot study

Purpose: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effect of a guided self-disclosure intervention (GSDI) promoting benefit finding (BF) for breast cancer patients. Methods: A total of 40 women with breast cancer were randomized either to a GSDI group, which included a 6 session face-to-face self-disclosure intervention, or to a control group. The Benefit Finding Scale (BFS) was used to measure BF, the Distress Disclosure Index (DDI) was used to measure self-disclosure, and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) was used to measure cognitive reappraisal. The outcomes were evaluated at baseline and the 3rd and 6th months. Results: The GSDI group had more satisfaction (t = 2.35, P = .02) than the control group and had significant group effects of higher BF (t = 2.214, P = .03) and a lower avoidance of the IES-R (t =-2.353, P = .024) at the 3rd month. There was a significant difference of BF (t = 2.036, P = .049) between the two groups at the 6th month, and other outcomes were not significant (P > .05). Intention-to treat (ITT) analysis showed significant time effects for all outcomes (P < .05); there were slightly significant time & times; group effects for BF (F = 4.15, P = .052) and disclosure (F = 2.719, P = .090). There were no time & times; group effects for the other outcomes (all P > .05). Conclusion: This study suggests that the GSDI intervention may be feasible in the clinic and might improve BF for breast cancer patients. However, future research needs to further refine the intervention and expand the sample to carry out a full-scale randomized controlled trial.