Patient preferences regarding cancer group psychotherapy interventions: a view from the inside.
Group interventions for cancer patients have commanded notable interest among investigators, but utilization rates are low and little is known about the features that patients themselves deem most important. The authors examined the views of potential participants, among 425 patients with diverse malignancies. A large number (64.6%) expressed interest, although few had attended a group. Preferences were strongest for interventions convened during diagnostic or active treatment periods rather than later, and those focusing on medical education or health-promotion, rather than emotional support or coping. Most were amenable to drop-in formats and to heterogeneous membership. In subgroup analyses, preferences were associated with disease site and not strongly related to psychosocial or demographic predictors. Understanding patient preferences may be critical for successful program development and utilization.
Sherman
Allen C
AC
Department of Behavioral Medicine, AR Cancer Research Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA. ShermanAllenC@uams.edu
Pennington
Jaymie
J
Latif
Umaira
U
Farley
Harriet
H
Arent
Lenore
L
Simonton
Stephanie
S
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003710:Demography; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011584:Psychology; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*