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Participants' Perceptions of Advantages and Drawbacks of "Drop-In" Versus "Closed-Group" Formats Related to Cancer
Yoojung Kim1, Carmen G Loiselle1,2
1Division of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada.
Current Oncology (Toronto, Ont.)
|September 26, 2025
Summary
Bereavement support programs, whether drop-in or closed-group, offer distinct benefits for cancer patients. Tailoring support formats to individual needs and preferences is crucial for effective grief management.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Accessible bereavement support is vital for comprehensive cancer care.
- Hope & Cope offers professional and volunteer-led bereavement programs in Montreal.
- Two formats are available: drop-in (as needed) and closed-group (structured).
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the contributions and drawbacks of drop-in versus closed-group bereavement support formats.
- To understand participant experiences with different program delivery methods.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving 18 bereaved participants.
- Semi-structured individual interviews conducted with drop-in (n=7) and closed-group (n=11) participants.
- Thematic analysis of verbatim interview transcripts.
Main Results:
- Drop-in format provided tailored, 'as-needed' support.
- Closed-groups ensured consistent attendance.
- Drawbacks included high turnover in drop-in and less relevant topics in closed-groups.
Conclusions:
- Both drop-in and closed-group formats have unique advantages and disadvantages.
- Supportive interventions should be personalized in content and delivery format.
- Matching program format to individual grief needs and preferences enhances support effectiveness.
Keywords:
bereavementcancercaregiversclosed-groupcommunity-basedfamily experiencesopen-groupprogram formatqualitative researchsupport programMore Related Videos
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