title: [Use of cancer support groups by laryngectomees in central Germany].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer support groups provide information and coping resources as well as represent patients' interests. To date it is unknown how often cancer patients post-laryngectomy use support groups and in which parameters users of support groups differ from non-users.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a multicentre study, 224 laryngectomees were asked about their support group membership. Further, possible predictors for membership one year post-surgery were assessed. Data were collected with a semi-structured interview and standardized instruments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 23% of the laryngectomized patients are actively involved in cancer support groups. The probability of a membership increases if patients are well-educated, are living in good economic conditions and in a partnership, if they perceive low family support and wish additional counselling with a physician.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A cancer support group seems to "buffer" family support perceived to be insufficient. However, support group users are living more frequently in a partnership and in good economic conditions compared to non-users. Physicians and speech therapists are important mediators to cancer support groups. They particularly should inform laryngectomees who are living in bad economic conditions and who are not living in a partnership about the availability of cancer support groups.
authors.affiliation: Zentrales Patientenmanagement, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig AÖR, Leipzig. stefan-schreiber@gmx.net
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ehrensperger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koscielny
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kubitza
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meister
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pabst
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oeken
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014600:Utilization Review