Finding a wider horizon: Experiences of being a next-of-kin of a person suffering from colorectal cancer as told after having participated in a psychoeducational program

Cancer patients' interest in participating in cancer rehabilitation

Introduction: Rehabilitation for cancer patients aims at preventing and reducing the physical, mental, social and existential consequences of a cancer disease and its treatment. The aim of this study is to describe the patients' self-perceived interest in participating in cancer rehabilitation (CR).Material and methods: A total of 1179 cancer patients, diagnosed with 28 different cancer diagnoses, from November 2015 to October 2016, were identified via the national cancer quality registers. A questionnaire was developed for the purpose of this study, the Cancer Rehabilitation Interest. The questionnaire comprises 16 different rehabilitation activities. This study describes what activities the patients are interested to participate in.Results: The response rate was 62% and the final sample comprised 728 patients. The rehabilitation activities wanted by the cancer patients were Psychoeducational support group together with others with the same cancer diagnosis, Open lectures on cancer, Individual weight training with a physiotherapist and Personal support from a social worker. Most interested in cancer rehabilitation were women, younger patients, university educated patients and those who had received their diagnosis ≥12 months prior. Patients with a mandatory educational level had the lowest interest in all suggested activities compared with those having medium or high education.Conclusions: The interest of cancer rehabilitation of all approached patients in this study were 21%. Most interested were women, young patients, university educated and those who received their diagnosis ≥12 months earlier. About 30% of the participating cancer patients reported an interest of information and supportive groups, physical training and support from a hospital social worker. Patients with low level of education reported a low interest in CR. There are limitations in rehabilitation accessibility and that might affect a person's motivation to participate in this study.

Navigating cancer using online communities: a grounded theory of survivor and family experiences

PURPOSE

People affected by cancer often have unmet emotional and social support needs. Online cancer communities are a convenient channel for connecting cancer survivors, allowing them to support one another. However, it is unclear whether online community use makes a meaningful contribution to cancer survivorship, as little previous research has examined the experience of using contemporary cancer communities. We aimed to explore the experiences of visitors to online cancer communities.

METHODS

Twenty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with online cancer community visitors, including cancer survivors (n = 18), family members (n = 2), and individuals who were both a survivor and family member (n = 3). Interviews were analysed using a grounded theory approach.

RESULTS

A theory developed explaining how individuals 'navigated' the experience of cancer using online cancer communities. Online advice and information led participants on a 'journey to become informed'. Online friendships normalised survivorship and cast participants on a 'journey to recreate identity'. Participants navigated a 'journey through different worlds' as they discovered relevant and hidden communities.

CONCLUSIONS

This theory highlights virtual paths people affected by cancer can take to self-manage their experience of the disease. Online community experiences can be improved by promoting online evaluation skills and signposting visitors to bereavement support.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Cancer survivors can benefit through both lurking and posting in online communities. However, individuals risk becoming distressed when they befriend individuals who may soon die. Additionally, people affected by rarer cancers can struggle to find shared experiences online and may need to look elsewhere for support.

Dealing with cancer: a meta-synthesis of patients' and relatives' experiences of participating in psychosocial interventions

The aim was to synthesise patients' and relatives' experiences of participating in a psychosocial intervention related to having cancer. The study was a meta-synthesis inspired by Noblit & Hare's 'meta-ethnography' approach. We systematically searched six databases and included 33 studies in the meta-synthesis. Inclusion criteria were qualitative studies with relevance to the synthesis topic. The meta-synthesis conceptualised the way in which participants develop their way of living with cancer, and the role psychosocial interventions play in helping them to live through the illness. Five themes symbolising the participants' core experiences were identified: (1) Emotional relief and a sense of well-being, (2) normalisation of experiences and a sense of control, (3) shared experience and a sense of community, (4) a safe place and (5) transformation and adaptability. The findings indicated that psychosocial interventions were used to try to deal with the changes in the human conditions caused by cancer. Sharing their experiences and forming social relationships helped the participants adapt to cancer. An existential perspective may provide a nuanced understanding of patients' and relatives' experiences of participating in psychosocial interventions.

Psycho-educational intervention on mood in patients suffering from colorectal and anal cancer: A randomized controlled trial

Psycho-educational interventions can moderate the negative impact of cancer on patients’ mental wellbeing, although studies of the effect on colorectal cancer (CRC) patients are scarce. Hence, the primary aim of this study was to test whether a nurse-led psycho-educational programme (PEP) could affect the emotional wellbeing of persons being treated for CRC and anal cancer. A secondary aim was to test whether there were any differences in emotional wellbeing in the patients before undergoing a PEP compared to a subset of the Swedish population. A randomized controlled trial was used. In total, 86 patients were randomized either to a PEP comprising seven lectures followed by discussions and reflections with peers or to standard treatment. Mental wellbeing was measured with the Mood Adjective Check List. The PEP significantly ( p < 0.04) increased the patients’ overall mood one month after the end of the intervention. The PEP seemed to have a short-term effect on patients’ overall mood. Other outcomes such as self-efficacy could be useful measures when evaluating PEP.

Effects of a psycho-educational programme on health-related quality of life in patients treated for colorectal and anal cancer: A feasibility trial

PURPOSE

Colorectal cancer (CRC) may have a negative impact on a person's quality of life. Psycho-educational interventions for patients with CRC are rarely studied. The purpose of this feasibility trial was to evaluate the effect of a psycho-educational programme (PEP) on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients treated for CRC and anal cancer.

METHODS

Patients with CRC and anal cancer were randomly assigned to a PEP (n = 47) or standard treatment (n = 39). The PEP included informative lectures, discussion, and reflection. HRQL was evaluated using the SF-36 at baseline and 1, 6, and 12 months after the end of the PEP.

RESULTS

Patients in the PEP group had significantly better Mental Health scores after 1 month and significantly better Bodily Pain scores after 6 months compared with patients who received standard care.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that a PEP can have a short-term effect on the mental health and bodily pain of patients treated for CRC and anal cancer when comparing with a control group. The article discusses the methodological difficulties of evaluating an intervention such as this PEP in a clinical setting.