Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T15:26:11.084Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Sharing experiences in a support group: men's talk during the radiotherapy period for prostate cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2012

Inger Öster ,
Oliver Hedestig ,
Mona Johansson ,
Nina Klingstedt  and
Jack Lindh
Inger Öster
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
Oliver Hedestig
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden Department of Radiation Sciences, Oncology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
Mona Johansson
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
Nina Klingstedt
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
Jack Lindh*
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Sciences, Oncology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Jack Lindh, Department of Radiation Sciences, Oncology, Umeå University, S-90187 Umeå, Sweden. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

Prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers in men, is often treated with radiotherapy, which strains both physical and mental health. This study aimed to describe the experiences of men living with prostate cancer shared within conversational support groups during a course of radiotherapy.

Method:

Nine men participated in one of two groups that met six or seven times, led by a professional nurse. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify themes and subthemes in the recorded group conversations.

Results:

The analysis resulted in six themes: living with a changing body, being in the hands of others, learning to live with the disease, the importance of knowledge, everyday life support, and meeting in the support group. The men discussed a wide variety of bodily experiences and described support from healthcare professionals, relatives, friends, and the support group as crucial to their recovery.

Significance of results:

Meeting men in a similar situation, sharing experiences of living with the disease, and feeling allied to each other were important to the men in our study. The conversational support group provided the patient with prostate cancer a forum where sharing was made possible.

Keywords

Prostate cancerExperienceQualitative content analysisSupport group
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 11 , Issue 4 , August 2013 , pp. 331 - 339
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ahlberg, K. & Nordner, A. (2006). The importance of participation in support groups for women with ovarian cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 33, E53–61.Google Scholar
Bell, J.M. (2011). Relationships: The heart of the matter in family nursing. Journal of Family Nursing, 17, 3–10.Google Scholar
Benzein, E.G., Hagberg, M. & Saveman, B-I. (2008). Being appropriately unusual: A challenge for nurses in health-promoting conversations with families. Nursing Inquiry, 15, 106–115.Google Scholar
Boberg, E.W., Gustafson, D.H., Hawkins, R.P., et al. (2003). Assessing the unmet information, support and care delivery needs of men with prostate cancer. Patient Education and Counseling, 49, 233–242.Google Scholar
Bohn, U., Wright, L.M. & Moules, N.J. (2003). A family systems nursing interview following a myocardial infarction: The power of commendations. Journal of Family Nursing, 9, 151–165.Google Scholar
Carter, N., Bryant-Lukosius, D., DiCenso, A., et al. (2010). The supportive care needs of family members of men with advanced prostate cancer. Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal, 20, 166–170.Google Scholar
Cecil, R., McCaughan, E. & Parahoo, K. (2010). ‘It's hard to take because I am a man's man’: an ethnographic exploration of cancer and masculinity. European Journal of Cancer Care, 19, 501–509.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, S., Tsai, M., Liu, C., et al. (2009). Support needs of patients with oral cancer and burden to their family caregivers. Cancer Nursing, 32, 473–481.Google Scholar
Edwards, A.G., Hubert-Williams, N. & Neal, R.D. (2008). Psychological interventions for women with metastatic breast cancer. Cochrane Library, 16, 3.Google Scholar
Emilsson, S., Svensk, A.-C., Olsson, K., et al. (2012a). Experiences from having breast cancer and being part of a support group. Notes written in diaries by women during radiotherapy. Palliative and Supportive Care, 10, 1–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Emilsson, S., Svensk, A.-C., Tavelin, B., et al. (2012b). Support group participation during the postoperative radiotherapy period increases levels of coping resources among women with breast cancer. European Journal of Cancer Care, 21, 591–598.Google Scholar
GLOBOCAN 2008 (IARC) Section of Cancer Information (2012). Most frequent cancers: Men. http://globocan.iarc.fr/factsheets/populations/factsheet.asp?uno=900.Google Scholar
Graneheim, U.H. & Lundman, B. (2004). Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: Concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Education Today, 24, 105–112.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hedestig, O. (2006). Living with localized prostatic cancer: “Among us men” (in Swedish). Doctoral Dissertation, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.Google Scholar
Hedestig, O. (2006). Living with Localized Prostatic Cancer: Among Us Men. Umea: Umea University.Google Scholar
Hiramanek, N. & McAvoy, B.R. (2005). Meeting the needs of patients with cancer – a GP guide to support services. Australian Family Physician, 34, 365–367.Google Scholar
Houger Limacher, L. & Wright, L.M. (2003). Commendations: Listening to the silent side of family intervention. Journal of Family Nursing, 9, 130–150.Google Scholar
Lintz, K., Moynihan, C., Steginga, S. et al. (2003). Prostate cancer patients; support and psychological care needs: Survey from a non-surgical oncology clinic. Psychooncology, 12, 769–783.Google Scholar
Noeres, D., Von Garmissen, A., Neises, M., et al. (2011). Differences in illness-related knowledge of breast cancer patients according to their involvement in self-help groups. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 32, 147–153.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Oliffe, J.L., Gerbrandt, J.S., Bottorff, J.L., et al. (2010). Health promotion and illness demotion at prostate cancer support groups. Health Promotion Practice, 11, 562–571.Google Scholar
Oliffe, J.L., Halpin, M., Bottorff, J.L., et al. (2008). How prostate cancer support groups do and do not survive: British Columbian perspective. American Journal of Men's Health, 2, 143–155.Google Scholar
Oliffe, J.L., Ogrodniczuk, J., Bottorff, J.L., et al. (2009). Connecting humor, health, and masculinities at prostate cancer support groups. Psycho-oncology, 18, 916–926.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Seymour-Smith, S. & Wetherell, M. (2006). ‘What he hasn't told you…’: Investigating the micro-politics of gendered support in heterosexual couples' co-constructed accounts of illness. Feminism & Psychology, 16, 105–127.Google Scholar
Stang, I. & Mittelmark, M.B. (2010). Intervention to enhance empowerment in breast cancer self-help groups. Nursing Inquiry, 17, 46–56.Google Scholar
Steginga, S.K., Occhipinti, S., Dunn, J., et al. (2001). The supportive care needs of men with prostate cancer. Psycho-oncology, 10, 66–75.3.0.CO;2-Z>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. (2007). National Guidelines for Breast, Colorectal and Prostate Cancer: Decision Support for Prioritizations (in Swedish). Stockholm: Socialstyrelsen.Google Scholar
Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. (2009). Public Health Report 2009. Stockholm: Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. http://www.socialstyrelsen.se/Lists/Artikelkatalog/Attachments/8495/2009-126-71_200912671.pdf.Google Scholar
Wright, L.M. & Bell, J.M. (2009). Beliefs and Illness: A Model for Healing. Calgary: 4th Floor Press.Google Scholar