This paper describes a psycho-educational multi-family discussion group intervention for cancer patients and their families (proFamilies) which was implemented and evaluated at the IPOFG - CROC (Portuguese Cancer Institute, Regional Centre of Coimbra). It is a brief and highly structured programme which involves educational and support components and is based on multi-family discussion groups, including patients and non-patient family members. Five groups were established, involving 19 families, and a total of 57 people. The paper focuses on the practical aspects of the intervention, its development and its evaluation. Our results suggest that the programme responds to the patients' and their families' needs and that participation in proFamilies prevents an increase in the patient's level of psycho-social maladjustment, promotes an adequate level of family cohesion and diminishes the perceived stress of patients and family members.

The availability of family-centred services for women genetically at-risk for breast and ovarian cancer (BRCA) due to deleterious genetic mutations is still scarce, despite the distress that these women and their families may experience. This study describes a multi-family group intervention for women who tested positive for BRCA mutations and their families. Methods include a time-limited psycho-educational programme involving educational and support components and consisting of four semi-structured multi-family sessions. Three families (a total of nine people) attended the programme in genetic counselling for hereditary cancers at a Portuguese public hospital. A focus group interview was performed 1 month after the last session to assess both the practical and the psychosocial impacts and to collect suggestions from participants. The present paper focuses on the practical aspects of the intervention, its development and its evaluation. Participants reported that the programme is well-structured and that responds to the needs of patients and their families by improving coping skills and medical awareness in the adaptation to genetic illness. Results reinforce the need to integrate psychosocial and family-oriented interventions in genetic counselling, addressing the holistic experience of hereditary disease. Recommendations for enhancing the services available are provided. The multi-family discussion group, combining educative and supportive services with a family focus, can be successfully adapted in genetic counselling protocols.

A non‐experimental exploratory study examining a multifamily discussion group for colorectal at‐risk individuals and their families is described. Four families attended a 90‐minute four‐session psychoeducational programme at a genetics centre of a Portuguese public hospital. A post‐programme focus group interview was performed to assess practical and psychosocial impact, and collect participants' views. Participants reported that the programme responds to the patients' and families' needs, enhancing their adaptation and coping to genetic illness. Results reinforce the need to integrate family‐centred interventions in genetic counselling services and address the holistic experience of hereditary disease. We conclude that the programme provides an integrated healthcare setting to help at‐risk individuals and their families cope with the specific biopsychosocial demands of their increased genetic susceptibility. Practitioner points Multifamily psychoeducational groups have a useful role in genetic counselling services. Family‐based approaches to genetic susceptibility to cancer need to be based on a family life‐cycle model incorporating the stage the cancer is diagnosed. Because of the reproductive implications of susceptibility, wider family members (and possibly adolescents) should be involved in the intervention.