Supportive and Palliative Care research group: research projects
Below is a list of research projects in the field of supportive and palliative care.
BMH - Nursing - Supportive and Palliative Care: research - Ongoing studies
Cancer support and self-help groups in the United Kingdom: a national survey
Abstract
Interventions aimed at providing emotional support for people with cancer include both professionally-led and peer-led (self-help) programmes. Little is know about how these approaches differ with regards to the content of meetings, perceived outcomes for participants, or training needs of leaders. Furthermore, there has been minimal research on this subject in the United Kingdom (UK). This study is a postal survey aiming to obtain questionnaire data from a large sample of members and leaders of cancer support and self-help groups across the UK, identified through the Macmillan Directory of Cancer Self-help and Support Groups 2007-2008. Information collected will further understanding of group features, and participant characteristics, and the influence of structural features (e.g. size, membership type, leader type) on perceived outcomes and psychosocial variables (e.g. coping style, social support). Participants will also be given the opportunity to volunteer for telephone interviews where issues of support group membership and leadership will be further explored. The results will help inform how best to plan support group interventions, and train leaders, in order to optimise the benefits for people with cancer in the future.
Funding body
Macmillan Cancer Support
Members of the project
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Dr Clare Stevinson | Principal investigator |
| Mrs Anne Lydon | Investigator |
| Dr Ziv Amir | Investigator |
Current status
Questionnaire data has been analysed and reports have been submitted for publication. Interview data is currently under analysis.
Results summary
Over 800 members and 300 leaders of cancer support groups and self-help groups took part in the survey representing all regions of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A broad range of groups were available to people affected by cancer, some aimed at any cancer diagnosis, but the majority were for specific cancers (e.g. breast cancer, prostate cancer). About half the groups were run by a committee and most offered members other services or activities in addition to regular group meetings, such as guest speakers, telephone support, and social events. The most common reason for choosing to join a group was to meet other people in a similar situation and the main benefits that members received from attending their groups were knowledge about cancer, emotional support, and practical skills. These findings are explored in more depth in interviews with a sample of the survey participants.