title: Videoconferencing for delivery of breast cancer support groups to women living in rural communities: a pilot study.
abstract: Women with breast cancer in rural areas are likely to exhaust their usual sources of psychosocial support while still facing challenges posed by breast cancer, but are unlikely to have access to professionally led support groups. In this community-based project, we assessed the feasibility and acceptability of providing support groups to women with breast cancer in a large rural area using videoconferencing and a workbook journal, and we assessed the intervention's potential to reduce distress and increase emotional expression and self-efficacy for coping with cancer. Twenty-seven women in the Intermountain Region of northeastern California participated in eight-session support groups led by an oncology social worker by going to nearby videoconferencing sites. Feasibility and acceptability were demonstrated. Older as well as younger women were comfortable using videoconferencing and said the groups were valuable because they promoted information sharing and emotional bonds with other women with breast cancer. They emphasized the importance of a professional facilitator and identified advantages of using videoconferencing for support groups. Pretest and posttest comparisons showed significant decreases in depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. The results suggest that the intervention has the potential to provide a valuable service that is not readily available in rural communities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5718, USA. KateCollie@KateCollie.com
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Collie
authors.forename: Mary Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kreshka
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrier
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Graddy
authors.forename: Speranza
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Avram
authors.forename: Patty
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mannell
authors.forename: Xin-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koopman
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012944:Social Support; D049269:Videoconferencing