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Published on: March 17, 2020
"They knew the same struggles": perceptions of a group coping skills intervention in patients with chronic
Joely A Centracchio1,2, Daniel G Yang3, Annemarie D Jagielo3
1Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. jcentracchio@miami.edu.
Insights
This study shows that a group coping skills intervention improved quality of life for chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) survivors by fostering connection and enhancing self-efficacy in managing their condition.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Psychology
Background:
- Chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD) significantly impacts allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) survivors.
- Survivorship research has largely overlooked the unique needs of HCT recipients with cGVHD.
- There is a critical need for interventions to address the physical and psychological sequelae of cGVHD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a multidisciplinary group coping skills intervention (Horizons) for HCT survivors with cGVHD.
- To qualitatively assess the perceived impact of the Horizons intervention on participants.
- To understand patient motivations, perceived benefits, and impacts of the intervention.
Main Methods:
- A subset of 19 Horizons intervention participants completed semi-structured audio-recorded exit interviews.
- Rapid analysis was employed to categorize participant feedback.
- Feedback was analyzed across three domains: motivations, perceived benefits, and impacts of participation.
Main Results:
- Participant motivations included connecting with other cGVHD survivors and aiding future patients.
- Key benefits identified were social connection, learning about cGVHD, and acquiring coping strategies.
- Impacts included increased empowerment to communicate with care teams, enhanced validation, and renewed motivation toward personal goals.
Conclusions:
- Participants valued the group setting for connecting with peers and developing skills to manage cGVHD.
- The Horizons intervention demonstrated positive impacts on participants' quality of life.
- Findings underscore the necessity of evidence-based interventions to enhance survivorship for HCT recipients.
Purpose:
Chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD), an inflammatory condition affecting allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) survivors, is associated with a range of debilitating physical and psychological sequela. Yet HCT recipients with cGVHD are virtually absent from survivorship intervention research. We conducted a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a multidisciplinary group coping skills intervention (Horizons) tailored to meet these patients' unique needs. For this follow-up qualitative analysis, we evaluated the perceived impact of the Horizons intervention by the group participants.
Methods:
We purposefully selected a subset of Horizons participants (n = 19) to complete audio-recorded exit interviews via semi-structured interview guide. We used rapid analysis to characterize participant feedback in three domains: (1) motivations to participate, (2) perceived benefits of participation, and (3) impacts of participation.
Results:
Findings highlight participants' motivations to participate centered on desires to connect with others living with cGVHD and to help future patients. Perceived benefits of participation focused on the following categories: (1) connecting with other survivors, (2) learning about cGVHD, and (3) learning coping strategies to manage specific cGVHD symptoms. Impacts of participation on everyday life variably reflected categories of (1) increased sense of empowerment to contact their care team with questions and concerns, (2) increased support and validation in their struggles with cGVHD, and (3) renewed motivation or progress toward personal and health-specific goals.
Conclusion:
Study findings demonstrate participants' appreciation for a group-based opportunity to connect with others living with cGVHD and strengthen skills for navigating cGVHD challenges. Results support the ongoing need for evidence-based interventions to improve quality of life among HCT survivors.
Trial Registration:
www.
Clinicaltrials:
gov , identifier NCT04479995. Date of Registration: July 21, 2020.
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