Iranian Journal of

Background: Studies show that nearly 60% of women with breast cancer experience persistent rumination during chemotherapy, which can significantly affect their emotional well-being, treatment outcomes, and overall quality of life. While group-based reminiscence interventions have been explored to some extent, there is limited research on telephone-delivered reminiscence programs, particularly those targeting both rumination and hopefulness in patients undergoing chemotherapy. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of telephone reminiscence in reducing rumination and increasing hopefulness among women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study involved 76 women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy in Zahedan, Iran. Participants with a history of major depressive disorder or who were currently receiving psychological treatment were excluded from the study. They were recruited from oncology clinics affiliated with Zahedan University of Medical Sciences and randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n=38) or a control group (n=38). The intervention consisted of six structured telephone-based reminiscence sessions, during which participants were guided to recall meaningful life experiences, such as childhood memories and personal achievements. Telephone delivery was chosen for its accessibility and convenience. Data were collected using the Nolen-Hoeksema Rumination Questionnaire and the Snyder Hope Scale, administered before and three months after the intervention. The collected data was analyzed using Chi-square tests, paired t-tests, and independent t-tests.
Results: The mean age of the intervention group was 45.57 ± 10.38 years, and the control group was 48.71 ± 7.10 years. Most participants in both the intervention (36.84%) and control (31.57%) groups had completed their elementary education. The mean rumination score before the intervention was calculated at 56.76 ± 8.11 for the intervention group and 53.21 ± 6.96 for the control group. After the intervention, the mean rumination score decreased to 44.47 ± 6.82 in the intervention group and 52.39 ± 7.36 in the control group. Telephone reminiscence significantly reduced rumination in the intervention group. Additionally, the mean hopefulness score in the intervention group increased from 20.15 ± 2.73 before the intervention to 27.44 ± 3.31 after the intervention, which was statistically significant (P<0.001), while changes in the control group were not significant (P=0.40).
Conclusion: Telephone-based reminiscence is a promising, cost-effective, and accessible intervention that can enhance the psychological well-being of women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. This approach can be integrated into existing psychosocial support services and delivered by oncology nurses trained in basic psychological techniques. However, the study's reliance on self-reported measures and convenience sampling may limit the generalizability of the findings.