Importance of psychological support for families of children with cancer

Introduction. A family of a child with cancer needs continuous help and support from medical and other professionals, relatives, friends and community at the moment of making diagnosis and during the treatment. The goal of this study was to find out the most frequent sources of individual or community based psychological support, reported by parents of children suffering from malignant diseases. We focused on the help received at the moment of making diagnosis and within the first and second year of treatment. Material and Methods. We analyzed data obtained by a questionnaire specially designed for parents of children suffering from different malignancies. The poll was conducted from April 2007 till October 2009 at the Hematology/ Oncology Department of Children?s Hospital of Novi Sad and it included 72 parents of both sexes, whose children were treated at our Department in the period from 2007 to 2009. The children were of different age. Results. The parents selected the following forms of support as the most important: support given by the emotional partner and other family members (together with sick and healthy child), communication with and accessibility of hospital stuff (physicians at the first place, but also psychologists, nurses, other parents, support groups?). They also expressed their need for contacting friends, relatives and other close people. The selected forms of support are extremely important for the patients (regardless of age) and for their family. All forms of organized and professionally conducted psycho-social support of patients and their family result in higher quality of psychological survival during the treatment and further rehabilitation of patients after rejoining their primary social environment. Conclusion. Family is the primary and the most important social surrounding within which disease both happens and is resolved. Adequate support can help family to overcome such crises, thus leading to the positive outcome.

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Unmasking Parkinson’s Disease: The Relationship of Grit, Exercise, and Quality of Life

Journal of Patient Experience ◽

10.1177/2374373520937171 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 1732-1739

Author(s):

Susan G Klappa ◽

Julie A I Thompson ◽

Stuart Blatt

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Support Groups ◽

Physical Therapists ◽

The United States ◽

Community Based ◽

Coping Responses ◽

Home Based

The purpose of this study was to investigate grit, exercise, and quality of life (QOL) among individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD). A sample of convenience was used. A survey which included the grit scale, QOL scale, and open-ended questions was distributed to participants (n = 101, 51 male and 50 female) who are members of online PD support groups across the United States. Data were analyzed by SPSS 25. Grit values averaged 3.65 ± 0.51 for participants (n = 101). When divided into groups, mean grit score for community-based exercisers was 3.78 ± 0.42 and 3.10 ± 0.48 for home-based exercisers. Grit was positively correlated to higher QOL on the Parkinson’s disease quality of life (PDQL; r = +0.293, P = .004). Grit was positively correlated to the emotional component of the PDQL ( r = +0.462, P < .001). Participants with higher grit levels had higher emotional coping responses after being diagnosed with PD, exercised more, and were more willing to self-advocate. With limited rehabilitation visits allowed, physical therapists should be aware of community-based programs to redefine participation roles after diagnosis.

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Quality Improvement Initiatives in Reforming Patient Support Groups—Three-Year Outcomes

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17197155 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (19) ◽

pp. 7155

Author(s):

Chieh-Liang Wu ◽

Chia-Hua Liou ◽

Shih-An Liu ◽

Cheng-Hsu Chen ◽

Wayne H-H Sheu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Improvement ◽

Support Groups ◽

Nurse Practitioners ◽

Medical Laboratory ◽

First Year ◽

Patient Support ◽

The Third ◽

Change Team ◽

Second Year

Background: Little has been done regarding the research on quality and quantity of patient support groups (PSGs) and how they can be improved. Here, we present three-year experiences of a quality improvement (QI) program of our PSGs. Methods: We launched earlier on a three-year project to improve our PSGs, including the number and quality of curricula. Data were collected on the number of PSGs, curricula, and participants. Results: In the first year, we organized relevant resources of our hospital and established a standard protocol for applying financial support and reporting the results. In the second year, we elected “the best patient” to promote sense of honor and better peer supports. In the third year, we surveyed through questionnaires participants’ health literacy to improve their feedback. Competitions and exhibitions of achievements were held each year to share results of every PSG. Finally, we had increased the volume of participation of patients and family over these three years (3968, 5401 (+35.5%) and 5963 (+50.3%)). Participation of staff also increased significantly (489 and 551 (+12.7%)). Furthermore, more interdisciplinary curricula were generated, with fewer doctors (38.2% to 29%), but greater numbers of the following: nurses (4.9% to 17.4%), nurse practitioners (0.4% to 14.5%), medical laboratory scientists (2.5% to 16.3%), social workers (4.7% to 41.7%), and teachers from outside (0% to 1.8%). Conclusion: In this first study on QI efforts on PSGs, we enlisted a core change team, drew a stakeholder map, and selected an improvement framework with good results.

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Interventions to Reduce Stigma of Dementia: First Insights From a Rural Community-Based Participatory Study

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3247 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 879-879

Author(s):

Juanita Bacsu ◽

Shanthi Johnson ◽

Megan O’Connell ◽

Marc Viger

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Support Groups ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Community Based ◽

People With Dementia ◽

Related Stigma ◽

Asking Questions

Abstract Age is the greatest risk factor for dementia, and the number of rural older adults is rising. Although dementia-related stigma is widely documented, few studies focus on ways to reduce stigma, especially within rural communities. This late breaker presentation aims to: 1) explore the contributing factors of dementia-related stigma in rural communities; and 2) identify interventions to reduce stigma of dementia in rural communities. Drawing on a community-based participatory approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 older adults, and a focus group with 7 community leaders in rural Saskatchewan, Canada. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes and patterns within the data. Contributing factors of dementia-related stigma ranged from fear to lack of dementia knowledge. Several anti-stigma interventions were identified including: forming support groups; hosting educational workshops; inviting guest speakers with dementia; talking openly about dementia; learning more about dementia; asking questions; sharing your lived-experiences; being inclusive; developing inter-generational programs; and avoiding assumptions and hurtful jokes. As the rural population ages, there is a growing need for interventions, programs, and policies to address stigma of dementia. Engaging in rural partnerships and collaborative research is essential to developing community-informed strategies to reduce dementia-related stigma and improve the quality of life for people with dementia.

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Psychological support groups for hospital patients undergoing treatment in the Radiotherapy Department

Zdravstvena zastita ◽

10.5937/zdravzast50-31805 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 35-44

Author(s):

Damira Murić ◽

Milena Raspopović

Keyword(s):

Support Groups ◽

Psychosocial Support ◽

Emotional Experience ◽

Psychological Support ◽

Outpatient Basis ◽

Psychological Techniques ◽

Clinical Center ◽

Radiotherapy Department ◽

Hospital Patients

Introduction/Aim: Research has shown that psychosocial support activates patients' resources and provides a better quality of life to oncology patients who struggle with the disease and side-effects of the therapy. The aim of this study was to examine whether connecting hospitalized patients based on a similar emotional experience during treatment could help them in coping and accepting the treatment. Methods: In September 2019, we began the program of psychological support groups with patients at the Department of Radiotherapy of the Institute of Oncology, Clinical Center of Montenegro. While designing the content of the workshops, we used our own knowledge in the field of health psychology, applied psychological techniques and psychotherapy, and placed special emphasis on mindfulness or full awareness. Our sample consisted of 58 workshop participants, 36 were women and 22 were men. The workshops consisted of 7 segments and they were organized once in a month during six months and lasted 1 hour and 30 minutes. Results: Qualitative analysis of the content of the workshops and subsequent monitoring of patients who went through them shows that organizing support groups has its meaning and purpose and many benefits, primarily in the field of accepting the illness, overcoming emotional blockages, strengthening self-capacity and focusing on other life circumstances, besides their disease. Conclusion: It is necessary to organize this type of workshops for patients who are treated on an outpatient basis, as well as to introduce new segments in the content of the workshops.

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The experiences of Turkish families caring for individuals with Schizophrenia: A qualitative inquiry

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0020764018779090 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 64 (5) ◽

pp. 497-505 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Seda Attepe Özden ◽

Tarık Tuncay

Keyword(s):

Financial Aid ◽

Qualitative Inquiry ◽

Psychological Support ◽

Social Dimensions ◽

Community Based ◽

Job Opportunities ◽

And Coping ◽

Depth Interviews

Background: In Turkey, individuals with schizophrenia usually live with their families. Therefore, families are main caregivers and face psychological, financial and social problems. Aim: The aim of this study is to understand the personal burdens and coping strategies, and social support affecting the families that provide care to the individuals with schizophrenia. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 members of 12 families. Results: Four themes were formed: learning and accepting the disorder, caregiving, social dimensions and service dimensions. Families have a problem with accepting this order and caregiving affects their quality of life both financially and socially. As schizophrenia is one of the reasons for being isolated from community, families prefer hiding it. Although families are satisfied with community-based systems, they need long-term solution, training and financial aid. Conclusions: To reduce the burden, family therapies, education and psychological support should be provided for families, and job opportunities, long-term caregiving services and psychological support should be provided for individuals with schizophrenia.

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Innovations in Public Defense as an Investment in Better Sentencing

Federal Sentencing Reporter ◽

10.1525/fsr.2011.24.1.21 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 21-22

Author(s):

Christopher Stone

Keyword(s):

Criminal Justice ◽

Mass Incarceration ◽

Community Based ◽

High Quality ◽

Pretrial Detention ◽

Detention Time ◽

Public Defense ◽

The Government ◽

The Moment

The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (NDS) opened its doors in 1990, hoping to demonstrate the benefits of a community-based, team-based public defender that began representation from the moment of arrest, or even earlier. Although pretrial detention time was not statistically different for NDS clients compared with similar defendants, NDS clients ultimately received significantly shorter sentences, and the savings to the government in terms of jail and prison time were substantial. More than twenty years after its debut, NDS continues to show that high-quality public defense can play an important role in any strategy to unwind mass incarceration while improving the quality of criminal justice generally.

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