Effect of Internet peer-support groups on psychosocial adjustment to cancer: a randomised study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We conducted a randomised study to investigate whether providing a self-guided Internet support group to cancer patients affected mood disturbance and adjustment to cancer. METHODS: Baseline and 1-, 6-and 12-month assessments were conducted from 2004 to 2006 at a national rehabilitation centre in Denmark. A total of 58 rehabilitation course weeks including 921 survivors of various cancers were randomly assigned to a control or an intervention group by cluster randomisation. The intervention was a lecture on the use of the Internet for support and information followed by participation in an Internet support group. Outcome measures included self-reported mood disturbance, adjustment to cancer and self-rated health. Differences in scores were compared between the control group and the intervention group. RESULTS: The effect of the intervention on mood disturbance and adjustment to cancer showed a transient difference at the 6-month follow-up, where the intervention group reported less reduction in anxious preoccupation (P ¼ 0.04), helplessness (P ¼ 0.002), confusion (P ¼ 0.001) and depression (P ¼ 0.04). Otherwise no significant effects were observed. CONCLUSION: We conclude that use of Internet-based support groups in cancer patients still needs to confirm long-lasting psychological effects.

A systematic review of types and efficacy of online interventions for cancer patients

“…No difference between the intervention and control groups was found for most measures of mood and adjustment to cancer at any of the three time points. However, the intervention group demonstrated less reduction in helplessness, and increased anxious preoccupation, confusion and depression at 6 months compared with controls [42]. -12).…”

“…This review includes studies of patients with lung cancer [31], prostate cancer [32], head and neck cancer [33] and breast cancer [34][35][36][37][38][39][40], as well as mixed cancer populations [41][42][43][44].…”

The Development of a Nurse-Led Internet-Based Learning and Self-care Program for Cancer Patients With Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression—A Part of U-CARE

“…It is already known that patients can be valuable sources of expertise for other patients in similar situations, 36 and for this reason, patient representatives will participate as patient experts in the online discussion forums. Results from previous studies have shown that an online discussion forum, moderated by health professionals, can lead to a reduction in mental disorders, whereas an unmoderated forum can, at worst, lead to an increase.…”

Preliminary Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial of an Online Psychological Intervention to Reduce Distress in Men Treated for Localised Prostate Cancer

“…Research examining online peer support has primarily focused on the benefit of this support alone, not in combination with a structured psychological intervention. Unfortunately, results have been inconsistent [27,[29][30][31][32]. The current study allowed an analysis of each component of the intervention separately.…”