The Goals Of Cancer Support Groups:
- Decrease patients’ sense of alienation by allowing them to talk to others in a similar situation
- Reduce anxiety about treatment
- Assist in clarifying misperceptions and misinformation
- Lessen feelings of isolation, helplessness, and neglect
Types Of Support Groups
Education:
- Important in early stages of diagnosis and treatment
- Decreases anxiety, depression, hostility
- Provides information about the disease
- Provides information about health-enhancing behaviors (e.G., diet, exercise)
- Dispels myths and misconceptions about treatments
Behavioral/Coping Skills Training:
- For receptive patients. Decreases emotional distress, nausea, pain, and anxiety
- Provides information and techniques on stress management
- Provides information and training on relaxation techniques such as guided imagery and biofeedback
- Provides information on hypnosis
- Provides techniques to enhance coping skills with goals of increasing optimism, flexibility, resourcefulness, and practicality
Psychological Support:
- Important at any stage of illness
- Provides support from a professional group leader and group members
- Associated with better adjustment to illness
- Provides awareness of cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral issues in patients with cancer
- Provides format for patient to be heard
- Provides opportunity for psychological intervention
- Provides reassurance
- Reinforces coping mechanisms
Self-Help Group:
- Serve as a safe environment for exploring lifestyle changes caused by cancer
- Led by nonprofessional, patient and family members who meet to exchange common experiences
- Provides mutual help and support
- Offers sharing in the collective spirit of common experiences
- Offers information exchange in a nonthreatening environment
- Develops coping mechanism for shared goals
