Online support groups offer low-threshold backing for family and friends of patients with prostate cancer

• Verfasst von: Ihrig, Andreas [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Maatouk, Imad [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Online support groups offer low-threshold backing for family and friends of patients with prostate cancer
• Verf.angabe: Andreas Ihrig, Theresa Renner, Tanja Muck, Philipp Maatz, Angelika Borkowetz, Bastian Keck, Imad Maatouk, Manfred P. Wirth, Johannes Huber
• Jahr: 2019
• Jahr des Originals: 2018
• Umfang: 9 S.
• Fussnoten: First published: 20 December 2018 ; Gesehen am 14.05.2019
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: European journal of cancer care
• Ort Quelle: Oxford [u.a.] : Wiley-Blackwell, 1992
• Jahr Quelle: 2019
• Band/Heft Quelle: 28(2019,2) Artikel-Nummer e12982, 9 Seiten
• ISSN Quelle: 1365-2354
• DOI: doi:10.1111/ecc.12982
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• Sach-SW: family and friends
• Sach-SW: health services research
• Sach-SW: online support group
• Sach-SW: peer support
• Sach-SW: prostate cancer
• K10plus-PPN: 166534248X

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.