Interventions to improve psychosocial sequelae in women with ovarian cancer

Approximately 21,550 women were diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer (OVCA) in 2009 and 14,600 died from their disease, making it the number one killer of women among gynecological cancers. Seventy percent of cases of OVCA are not detected until the disease has progressed to stage III or stage IV. Both diagnosis and aggressive treatments for late-stage OVCA can have a negative impact on women\u27s psychosocial well-being resulting in anxiety, depression, and fear. The purpose of this integrative review of literature was to evaluate interventions designed to improve psychosocial well-being in women with OVCA. This review of literature was conducted using the CINAHL, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE databases using various key terms including ovarian cancer or neoplasm and psychological and psychosocial , well-being , fear or anxiety or depression . Five studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. These interventions include psychosocial, psychoeducational, and personal counseling interventions. The findings indicate that these interventions result in a significant improvement in participant\u27s psychosocial well-being including decreased depressive symptoms, fear, and anxiety. This evidence supports that there is a need for psychosocial intervention in women with OVCA. It also suggests that women with OVCA benefit from tailored interventions and one-on-one educational and counseling sessions. Clinicians can use this information to anticipate potential problems in their client\u27s psychosocial well-being and provide more education and support or refer them for counseling. More research is needed about reducing the psychosocial sequelae that results in women with OVCA