Mediating processes of two communication interventions for breast cancer patients

ObjectiveTest whether three mediating processes of Self-Determination Theory are involved in intervention effects on quality of life for breast cancer patients.MethodsA randomized clinical trial recruited newly diagnosed breast cancer patients for 6 months of (1) Internet training and access, (2) access to an integrated eHealth system for breast cancer (CHESS), (3) a series of phone conversations with a Human Cancer Information Mentor, or (4) both (2) and (3).ResultsThis paper reports results after the initial 6 weeks of intervention, at which point patients in the combined condition had higher quality of life scores than those in the other three conditions. All three Self-Determination Theory constructs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) mediated that effect as hypothesized. In addition, the single-intervention groups were superior to the Internet-only group on relatedness, though perhaps this was too soon for that to carry through to quality of life as well.ConclusionsThe SDT constructs do mediate these interventions’ effects.Practice implicationsIntervention design can profitably focus on enhancing autonomy, competence and relatedness.