title: Group interventions for patients with cancer and HIV disease: part IV. Clinical and policy recommendations.
abstract: Group interventions have assumed a growing role in primary prevention and supportive care for cancer and HIV disease. Earlier sections of this Special Report examined empirical findings for these interventions and provided recommendations for future research. The current section offers brief recommendations for service providers, policymakers, and stakeholders. Group services now occupy an increasingly prominent place in primary prevention programs and medical settings. In previous sections of this Special Report (Sherman, Leszcz et al., 2004; Sherman, Mosier et al., 2004a, 2004b) we examined the efficacy of different group interventions at different phases of cancer or HIV disease, considered characteristics of the intervention and the participants that might influence outcomes, and discussed mechanisms of action. Methodological challenges and priorities for future research were highlighted. In this, the final section, we offer brief recommendations for service providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders. We consider some of the barriers that constrain use of empirically-based group interventions and note how these programs might be implemented more widely and effectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Head, Group Psychotherapy, University of Toronto, Canada. mleszcz@mtsinai.on.ca
authors.forename: Molyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leszcz
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mosier
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Burlingame
authors.forename: Trish
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.forename: Kathleen Hubbs
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ulman
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simonton
authors.forename: Umaira
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Latif
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hazelton
mesh_terms: D005381:Financing, Organized; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011322:Primary Prevention; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014481:United States