Integrating Online Support Groups with Individual Therapy for Cancer Patients in India

Cancer is the biggest cause of death, premature death, and lost years of life around the world. A cancer diagnosis is a significant stressor that can result in physical, emotional, and social issues. As a result, many cancer patients face a variety of psychosocial challenges upon diagnosis, including despair, anxiety, loneliness, uncertainty and loss of control, low self-esteem, relationship disruptions, and concerns about cancer recurrence.

‍

The encounter with this life-threatening condition is connected with significant mental anguish. Following the diagnosis and treatment, short-term decisions must be made. The most prevalent concerns experienced by cancer survivors include fear of recurrence or progression, as well as sadness.

‍

With breakthroughs in identification and treatment, it is expected that more than two-thirds of cancer patients will become long-term survivors. Although survival rates are improving, cancer diagnosis and treatment present a number of physical and emotional problems that can lower overall quality of life.

‍

‍

Cancer Support Groups

Cancer patients and survivors may be able to meet many of their supportive care needs with the help of peers. Social support has been identified as a significant contributor to overall well-being by mitigating the impact of stressful experiences, especially those associated with physical sickness.

‍

‍

Sharing experiences in cancer self-help groups (CSHG) might foster realistic expectations about medical treatment and illness effects, which can then be understood in terms of problem-oriented coping and social downward comparison.

‍

In the cancer situation, assistance can take many forms, including psychotherapy programs, educational programs, and peer-support groups. They differ in some ways. In psychotherapy programs, a skilled therapist works with patients (for example, teaching them how to express and manage their emotions), whereas in educational programs, a health professional delivers specialist cancer knowledge.

‍

Peer-support programs may incorporate elements of psychotherapy programs (e.g., talking feelings) and educational programs (e.g., offering cancer information), but they differ in that no treatment is performed and the emphasis is not on educating the patient.

‍

‍

Understanding Peer Support

Peer support is support provided to persons with cancer by others who have also had cancer. Sharing experiences is the essence of peer support, allowing a peer to provide experiential empathy, which is typically beyond the scope of health professionals.

‍

Dennis described emotional, informational, and appraisal assistance as essential peer support characteristics, with mutual identification, shared experiences, and a sense of belonging established through peer support thought to have a good impact on psychological outcomes.

‍

The ‘direct effect model’ claims that peer support has a direct impact on health outcomes by reducing feelings of isolation, encouraging health practices, fostering positive psychological states, and providing information.

‍

A study was done to identify peer support models for cancer patients and carefully analyse evidence of their efficacy in promoting psychosocial adjustment. They discovered five distinct peer-support delivery models: one-on-one face-to-face, one-on-one telephone, group face-to-face, group telephone, and group Internet. The study concluded with a high degree of satisfaction with peer-support programs, implying that one-on-one face-to-face and group online peer-support programs should be prioritised when deciding how to provide peer support.

‍

‍

Benefits of Support Groups

Shared experience

The group provides a platform for people to feel understood and accepted, allowing them to communicate without embarrassment. The resulting social cohesion is frequently referred to as 'family', highlighting its ability to be a source of comfort and hope.

‍

Learning from others

The majority of group participants gain greatly from identifying with other group members and learning about their disease management, such as handling treatment or developing new daily routines. This can assist to set reasonable expectations and lessen feelings of uncertainty.

‍

Helping others

By assisting others, the group member gains a sense of usefulness and significance, which is regarded as a positive outcome. Participants benefit not just from what they get, but also from what they may give back to the group.

‍

Cultivating Humour

Humour as a coping mechanism helps to improve group cohesion and can alleviate cancer-related anxiety.

‍

‍

Online Support Groups for Cancer

Peer support is a crucial supplement to the supportive care offered by health professionals, and it is highly valued by cancer patients, including those who have family and friends. Support from other cancer patients and survivors offers reassurance, practical knowledge, and emotional support that other helpful connections cannot supply.

‍

Online support groups are virtual social spaces where people with similar conditions or interests gather to receive and provide information and support, to learn, or to find companionship. They can be standalone discussion forums or integrated into major social media sites. Some are moderated by community managers or healthcare experts, while others are not.

‍

‍

Online support groups are a promising way to reach a larger section of cancer patients and survivors at a lower cost. Significant observational data demonstrates that online support groups reduce feelings of loneliness, despair, and anxiety while increasing knowledge, coping, and self-management among cancer patients and survivors. Studies also show that including an online support group into a digital health intervention can reduce attrition, boost engagement, and raise impact sizes.

‍

Integrating online support groups with individual therapy for cancer patients can offer a comprehensive approach to mental health and emotional well-being. It can help in creating holistic support and addressing the emotional and psychological concerns:

‍

Holistic Support: Combining online support groups with individual therapy creates a comprehensive approach that addresses both collective and personal needs. Support groups provide shared experiences and peer support, whereas individual therapy delivers tailored care.

‍

Emotional and psychological benefits: Connecting with others who are going through similar circumstances helps to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness; creates a safe environment for sharing feelings, worries, and concerns. It helps with anxiety, depression, and stress associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment.

‍

‍

Conclusion

Online support groups combined with individual therapy for cancer patients provide a strong and adaptable approach to mental health care. This combination contributes to resolving the multiple issues that cancer patients confront, as well as establishing a supportive community and offering personalised therapeutic care.

‍

Rocket Health India stands out as a trustworthy provider, ensuring that patients receive the finest possible care throughout their journey. Their professional therapists and comprehensive support groups take a holistic approach to cancer treatment.

‍

If you or a loved one is battling cancer, think about the advantages of combining online support groups with individual therapy. Contact Rocket Health India today to discover more about how we can help you get through this difficult period. Together, we can make the road to recovery a bit simpler.

‍

‍

References

Bender JL, Babinski S, Wong G, et al. Establishing best practices in cancer online support groups: protocol for a realist review. BMJ Open 2021;11:e053916. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2021-053916. Retrieved from https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e053916

‍

Grassi L, Spiegel D, Riba M. (2017). Advancing psychosocial care in cancer patients. F1000Res;6:2083. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.11902.1. PMID: 29259774; PMCID: PMC5717468. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5717468/

‍

Hoey LM, Ieropoli SC, White VM, Jefford M. (2008). Systematic review of peer-support programs for people with cancer. Patient Educ Couns. 2008 Mar;70(3):315-37. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2007.11.016. Epub. PMID: 18191527. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18191527/

‍

Jablotschkin M, Binkowski L, Markovits Hoopii R, Weis J. (2022). Benefits and challenges of cancer peer support groups: A systematic review of qualitative studies. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2022 Nov;31(6):e13700. doi: 10.1111/ecc.13700. Epub. PMID: 36104303. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36104303/