Impact of Support Group Intervention on Quality of Life of Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background: Health-related quality of life is an important end point in breast cancer care. Assessing quality of life in breast cancer patients could contribute to improved treatment outcome and could even serve as monitor along with medical parameters. The need for psychosocial support is well established among breast cancer patients with levels of psychological distress and depression, particularly after diagnosis and treatment. Cancer support helps patients to cope with cancer by adjusting their attitudes, knowledge, and expectation about the disease. Aim: To determine the impact of support group intervention on quality of life of patients with advanced breast cancer To create awareness, educate, counsel and support as well as to mediate in the weaknesses of the medical care system in dealing with breast cancer patients. Methods: A prospective cohort study involving breast cancer patients using a system of breast cancer support group that organizes a two month period meeting for all breast patients in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu. Educational information on breast cancer, nutritional needs, exercise and the need for regular follow-up in breast cancer care were given to them as well as the means of overcoming the psychosocial burden in cancer. QOL assessment evaluating the four domains (physical, social, psychological and environmental) on selected patients with advanced breast cancer using WHO BREF was administered. Results: A total of 113 breast cancer patients were involved in this study. At the end of the intervention, 14 women (12.4%) were censored due to death, while postassessment was carried out for only 99 women. Postintervention analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between availability of social support to respondents (FS score) and the four quality of life domains ( P < 0.05). Further analysis also showed that respondents' quality of life significantly increased across all domains at postintervention ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients receiving support group intervention all had improved quality of life.

Characterization of Online Support Group Resources for Patients with Dermatologic Conditions

“…Support groups have shown to be an important and bene cial non-pharmacologic intervention for patients with an array of systemic chronic diseases. [10][11][12] When patients need support resources, access and convenience are a priority. 13 Virtual support resources are thus a tool with high utilization by patients.…”

Protocol for a feasibility trial (EXPRESS-C-GVHD) for an expressive helping intervention within a support group for cutaneous graft-versus-host-disease

“…(13) Interventions on chronic diseases with QOL effects have been studied in other settings, such as in breast cancer, where group-based interventions showed to improve patients' QOL. (14) Another study evaluating chronic pain found that participating in a support group was associated with improved functional ability. (15) In addition, group support therapy for patients with chronic dermatological disease has positively affected the psychosocial states of various patient populations, such as hidradenitis suppurativa.…”