Support group for cancer patients. Does it improve their physical and psychological wellbeing? A pilot study

In order to evaluate a structured support intervention programme, symptoms and quality of life (QOL) were studied in 61 consecutive cancer patients with different tumour diagnoses in relation to intervention and follow-up. The majority of the patients were female. The Edmonton symptom assessment scale (ESAS), the Norwegian fatigue questionnaire and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) were used. Data were analysed according to ANOVA and Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) test. ESAS sickness score (P=0.0001), depression (P=0.0001), anxiety (P=0.0001) and QOL (P=0.0009) improved and the improvements in depression and anxiety were still significant after 3 months (P=0.02 respectively). Aspects of fatigue also improved significantly in 7 of 11 questions after the intervention (P< or =0.04) but these improvements were not observed after 3 months. Anxiety according to the HADS questionnaire improved significantly after the intervention (P=0.0006). The majority of the patients highly appreciated the possibility of sharing thoughts and troubles with others with similar experiences (59%). The programme was therefore found to improve QOL, and physical and psychological functions. Randomized studies in relation to immunological changes and follow-up are in progress.