It is important to note that the Health Belief Model (HBM) was initiated in the early 1950s by social researchers to comprehend the lack of people’s adoption disease prevention, or screening tests for early detection of disease (Boston University School of Public Health, n.d.). Early breast cancer detection through screening mammography is the most effective way to reduce mortality rate from disease. It is a proven method to reduce deaths due to breast cancer. Early detection has shown to lead to less intensive treatments, including lumpectomy rather than mastectomy, and chemotherapy in some cases (Susan, n.d.). Over the past 20 years, a growing body of literature has shown beneficial effects of traumatic or stressful event on physical and emotional health. The systematic review and meta-analysis of Zhou, Wu, An & Li (2015) reveals that EW intervention may significantly have positive impact on the physical health but not the psychological health in BC patients. This benefit may not last long. Another study evaluated whether Expressive Writing (EW) was an effective stress management intervention for breast cancer patients (de Moor et al, 2008) According to de Moor et al (2008), there were some evidences that the EW group used more sleep medications at the presurgical assessment than the NW group. Numerous Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) have shown conflicting conclusions on EW, as an intervention for Breast Cancer (BC) patients, but there has been no meta-analysis of these studies to assess the effectiveness of EW in BC population (Zhou, Wu, An & Li, 2015).
Boston University School of Public Health (n.d.). The Health Belief Model. Retrieved from http://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-Modules/SB/SB721-Models/SB721-Models2.html
de Moor, J. S., Moyé, L., Low, D., Rivera, E., Singletary, S. E., Fouladi, R. T., & Cohen, L. (2008). Expressive Writing as a Presurgical Stress Management Intervention for Breast Cancer Patients. Journal Of The Society For Integrative Oncology, 6(2), 59-66. doi:10.2310/7200.2008.0010
Susan G. K. (n.d.). The Importance of Mammography Screening. Retrieved from http://www.komenidaho.org/understanding-breast-cancer/about-breast-cancer/the-importance-of-mammography.html
Zhou, C., Wu, Y., An, S., & Li, X. (2015). Effect of Expressive Writing Intervention on Health Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Plus ONE, 10(7), 1-19. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.013180
