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Background This hospital-based art-making support group for female adult cancer patients was set up in 2009. Participants meet weekly for art and craft activities, which are facilitated by a psychiatrist. The group is open-ended and participation is voluntary. There are currently around 150 participants in total. Objectives This qualitative study explores patient experiences in a hospital-based art-making support group. Methods 15 semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted. The participants were all female, predominantly Chinese Singaporean, and had been diagnosed with either breast cancer or a gynaecological cancer. A constructivist phenomenological research paradigm was adopted. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify, analyse and report patterns in the data. Results Three overarching themes and corresponding subthemes were identified: Benefits and challenges of journeying through cancer as a group (supporting one another, maturing relationships, interpersonal conflict, death and illness in the group), increased personal well-being (increased emotional well-being, personal growth and reduced social isolation) and going beyond group-based art-making (value of non-art-making activities, artistic development beyond the group). Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that art-making support groups may enhance the emotional, psychological and social well-being of patients with cancer. The group experience has provided participants with emotional, informational and experiential support, though participants cited the need to accept interpersonal conflict and grief over fellow participants’ illness and death. Potential areas for future study include the impact of interpersonal dynamics on cancer support groups, the impact of cultural factors on participants’ interactions and the skills required of group facilitators to manage conflict, grief and anxiety amongst participants.

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Objective Balint groups provide a safe space for clinicians to discuss difficult cases, with the aim of deepening the clinician-patient relationship and providing space for self-introspection and personal development. During this COVID-19 period, mental health clinicians need a platform to undergo professional supervision and peer learning sessions, which can be provided for by Tele-Balint sessions. This study aims to understand the workings of Balint groups in a multi-disciplinary team, through exploring the experience and perceptions of mental health clinicians in a tertiary obstetrics- and paediatrics-focused hospital in Singapore towards Tele-Balint groups, and examining if these groups can address their professional needs. Method A mixed-methods study was conducted. 26 mental health clinicians who had participated in Tele-Balint groups since March 2020 completed a semi-structured questionnaire, and 12 of them were interviewed. Qualitative analysis of interview transcripts was performed. Results Qualitative analysis revealed 5 themes. The first 4: professional and personal growth of clinicians, providing emotional support to clinicians, burnout in clinicians: what contributes and what helps, and psychological safety, address whether Tele-Balint groups meet clinicians’ needs. The last theme, evolution of nature of Balint groups, addresses whether Tele-Balint groups meet clinicians’ needs during the time of a pandemic. Conclusions Tele-Balint group participation was found to be beneficial in facilitating personal and professional growth, providing emotional support and preventing burnout, despite some limitations. Members should maintain flexibility towards the Balint process, in order to accommodate others who have differing needs, especially in a multi-disciplinary group.