Determinants of participation in cancer support groups: the role of health beliefs.
BACKGROUND
Although considerable attention has been directed toward cancer support groups, little is known about how often these services are actually used in clinical practice or the factors that influence participation.


OBJECTIVE
Drawing in part on the Health Belief Model, this study examined group participation and its correlates among 425 patients with diverse malignancies treated at a large academic oncology center.


METHODS
Patients were surveyed regarding utilization rates, health beliefs, and medical and demographic characteristics.


RESULTS
Only a small number of patients reported having participated in groups (8.0%). Consistent with the model, in univariate analyses, participation was significantly related to greater perceptions of illness severity (p < .0001), greater perceived benefits (p < .01), fewer perceived barriers (all p < .01), and greater cues for action (i.e., recommendation by family/friends, p < .000001). In multivariate analyses controlling for disease site and other covariates, the strongest predictors included recommendation by family/friends (OR = 5.04; CI = 1.98-12.81), perceived seriousness of the illness (OR = 4.07; CI = 1.42-11.60), and geographical residence (OR = 2.74; CI = 1.09-6.93).


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that participation might be increased by involving the patient's support network, improving access in underserved rural communities, addressing illness appraisals, and increasing outreach to certain diagnostic groups.
Behavioral Medicine, Winthrop P Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, USA. shermanal-lenc@uams.edu
Allen C
AC
Sherman
Jaymie
J
Pennington
Stephanie
S
Simonton
Umaira
U
Latif
Lenore
L
Arent
Harriet
H
Farley
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001131:Arkansas; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012803:Sick Role