Author of

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  P1.02 - Advocacy (Not CME Accredited Session) (ID 934)

  • Event: WCLC 2018
  • Type: Poster Viewing in the Exhibit Hall
  • Track:
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:
  • Coordinates: 9/24/2018, 16:45 - 18:00, Exhibit Hall

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    P1.02-10 - "We Are Ambassadors for Survivors:" Experiences of Lung Cancer Support Group Attendees and Facilitators (ID 12296)

    16:45 - 18:00  |  Author(s): Kerri Susko
    • Abstract
    • Slides

    Background
    

    Each year, 1.8 million people are diagnosed with lung cancer globally. Compared with other cancers, lung cancer patients experience higher levels of distress and have greater unmet physical and emotional needs.

    A significant unmet need is social support. Face-to-face support groups can meet this need and may increase feelings of control and decrease distress. While lung cancer patients tend to prefer lung cancer-specific over general cancer groups, for many reasons these groups can be challenging to start and maintain.

    The number of lung cancer support groups in the world is not known. In the US, where over 230,000 people are diagnosed annually, there are typically fewer than 100 groups running at any given time, and many of those are not thriving. The goal of this project was to solicit and compile the real-world experiences of lung cancer support group attendees and facilitators to increase the chance of success for new groups and provide struggling groups with tips and ideas that can be used anywhere in the world.

    a9ded1e5ce5d75814730bb4caaf49419 Method
    

    The perspectives of support group attendees (patients, survivors and loved ones) and facilitators were gathered and analyzed.

    Attendee perspectives were gained through:

    -- 10 focus groups, with questions related to motivation for group attendance, group benefits and suggestions to improve the group

    -- Analysis of 17 pre- and post- attendance questionnaires to measure group impact

    -- A review of relevant literature

    Facilitator perspectives were gained through:

    -- A 21 question online survey to 131 lung cancer support group facilitators, 7 in Australia, 42 in the United Kingsom nd 82 in the United States, with questions related to greatest challenges in group startup and maintenance and soliciting creative solutions used to overcome difficulties

    -- In-depth interviews with two successful facilitators

    -- A review of relevant literature

    4c3880bb027f159e801041b1021e88e8 Result
    

    Results have been analyzed and categorized according to benefits of group attendance, facilitator perspectives and identifcation of challenge and solution themes. The most difficult issue for facilitators is getting the word out and maintaining attendance. A clear benefit to attendees is the opportunity to join with others who truly understand their experiences.

    8eea62084ca7e541d918e823422bd82e Conclusion
    

    Only through listening to both lung cancer support group facilitators and attendees can we identify indicators of group success. The results of this project are diseminated to help facilitators of new groups consider a number of factors known to foster successful groups and provide direction to facilitators of groups that are struggling, anywhere in the world.

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