title: [Support groups in oncology. How does the nurse intervene?].
abstract: Participation by nurses in support groups are beneficial for oncology patients and their families since they improve their degree of adaptation and they promote effective mechanisms to confront one's illness. This improvement in quality of life is reflected in patients emotional, physical, social and spiritual state; furthermore, in some cases this leads to an increase in their survival. Due to a nurse's role, oncology patients' families improve their adaptation to the situation; moreover, nurse's aid provides the necessary support to patients during their medical treatment. The authors review the existing literature about nurses' participation in support groups in order to improve a patient's and his/her family's adaptation to cancer and all it entails. With this objective in mind, the authors present the conceptual and empirical concepts of a support group along with their overall objectives and possible benefits. Finally, the authors document the role of nursing in support groups for oncology patients and their families. This study was financed by the Carlos III Health Institute as part of the Evaluation Studies of Health Technologies, reference FIS 00/10107.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D012657:Self-Help Groups
vernacular_title: Grupos de apoyo en oncología. Cómo interviene la enfermera?