Online support groups offer low‐threshold backing for family and friends of patients with prostate cancer. (20th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ihrig, Andreas; Renner, Theresa; Muck, Tanja; Maatz, Philipp; Borkowetz, Angelika; Keck, Bastian; Maatouk, Imad; Wirth, Manfred P.; Huber, Johannes
• Is Part Of: European journal of cancer care. Volume 28:Number 2(2019)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-12-20
• Subjects: family and friends -- health services research -- online support group -- peer support -- prostate cancer; Cancer -- Nursing -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1111/ecc.12982
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-5423

Abstract

Abstract: A prostate cancer diagnosis affects not only the patients but also their family and friends. We performed a secondary analysis of a survey of users of the largest German online support group (OSG) for prostate cancer. We collected socio‐demographic, psychological and disease‐related data over a three‐month period in 2013. Among 769 participants with a complete questionnaire, 686 were patients, and 83 were family members and friends of other patients. The family and friends group comprised 33% spouses, 31% children and 36% people with other relationships to the patient ("others"). Compared to the patient group, the family and friends group showed higher scores for anxiety and depression and described a higher rate of metastatic disease in the patients with whom they had a relationship. The children of patients showed the highest psychological burden based on their scores for anxiety and depression. Only 7% of spouses and none of the children attended face‐to‐face support groups, compared to 70% of people in the "others" group. OSGs offer low‐threshold support for family members and friends; specifically, they meet the needs of spouses and children who do not attend face‐to‐face support groups. To improve counselling efforts, physicians should be aware of this online resource.