An Evaluation of the Impact of a Cosmetics Class on Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

This article reports the findings from an evaluation of Ihe "Look Good, Feel Better" program, a cosmetics class designed to restore the appearance and self-image of women with cancer. The participants were 121 women who were hospitalized for breast surgery. A quasiexperimental design was used in which 45 patients (experimental group) who participated in a class in early afternoon were compared with 76 patients who had not yet participated in a later class. The results indicated that patients in the experimental group reported significantly greater improvements in their mood and perceptions of their attractiveness when compared with the control group. These findings provided preliminary support for the benefits of the program for breast cancer patients.