Effect of a novel pilot support group on distress and quality of life in breast cancer patients in Nigeria

Abstract

Objective To assess the effect of a new breast cancer support group (BCSG) on breast cancer patients' self‐reported distress and quality of life. Methods A single arm pre‐post trial providing an eight session healthcare provider led BCSG. Primary outcome variables were distress and quality of life assessed using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer (DT) and The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy ‐ Breast plus Arm Morbidity (FACT‐B+4), respectively. Topics in each session addressed a wide range of issues some of which were pre‐selected by the patients themselves. Data analysis Paired sample t‐test was used for data analysis on International Business Machine Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 21. Results The participants (N = 18) had a mean age of 51. Most had secondary school level education (54%), were traders (59%) and had stage 3 or 4 disease (67%). A larger proportion (78% or n = 14) of the patients lived in rural areas, while 4 (22%) of the patients lived in Ibadan. Out of the 8 sessions, 12 (67%) of the participants attended 1‐3 sessions while 6 (33%) attended 4‐8 sessions. There were, significant improvements in emotional wellbeing (t = −4.253; p < 0.05) and functional wellbeing (t = −2.191; p < 0.05) on the FACT‐B+4. There was a significant reduction in the DT score (t = 2.345; p < 0.05) but the number of items on the problem list were not significantly reduced (t = 1.191; p > 0.05). Majority (75%) of the patients rated the support group activities as satisfactory. Conclusion These data show that the support group can benefit breast cancer patients in terms of reduced distress levels along with satisfaction and improvement in the functional and emotional wellbeing indices of quality of life.

Atualizações Em Promoção Da Saúde

“…Os resultados deste estudo enfatizam a necessidade de uma abordagem integrada no tratamento do câncer de mama, que leve em consideração não apenas a dimensão física, mas também as implicações psicológicas e sociais (Asuzu et al, 2022). O apoio psicológico contínuo, juntamente com programas de educação e conscientização, são elementos fundamentais para promover o bem-estar geral das pacientes (Akechi et al, 2020).…”

Impacto Psicológico E Social Do Câncer De Mama: Além Da Dimensão Física

“…Os resultados deste estudo enfatizam a necessidade de uma abordagem integrada no tratamento do câncer de mama, que leve em consideração não apenas a dimensão física, mas também as implicações psicológicas e sociais (Asuzu et al, 2022). O apoio psicológico contínuo, juntamente com programas de educação e conscientização, são elementos fundamentais para promover o bem-estar geral das pacientes (Akechi et al, 2020).…”

Global psycho‐oncology in low middle‐income countries: Challenges and opportunities

“…Psychosocial research included in this Special Issue identifies individual resiliency factors, such as self-compassion, in patients with cancer in Xi'An, China 19 and pilot studies are reported demonstrating the feasibility of written exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in Iranian women with breast cancer 20 and of acceptance and commitment therapy for parents of children with a haematological malignancy or a solid tumour. 21 Asuzu et al 22 report a pilot psychosocial intervention group in Nigeria that shows potential in supporting breast cancer patients. However, the need for greater attention to interventional research in psychosocial oncology was highlighted by Onyeka et al 13 in a scoping review of the psychosocial aspects of cancer in sub-Saharan Africa.…”