Pathways to Acceptance in Participants of Advanced Cancer Online Support Groups
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Individuals with cancer, especially advanced cancer, are faced with numerous difficulties associated with the disease, including an earlier death than expected. Those who are able to confront and accept the hardships associated with the disease in a way...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/57/11/1168 |
| _version_ | 1797509425436557312 |
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| author | Christina Francesca Pereira Kate Cheung Elyse Alie Jiahui Wong Mary Jane Esplen Yvonne W. Leung |
| author_facet | Christina Francesca Pereira Kate Cheung Elyse Alie Jiahui Wong Mary Jane Esplen Yvonne W. Leung |
| author_sort | Christina Francesca Pereira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Individuals with cancer, especially advanced cancer, are faced with numerous difficulties associated with the disease, including an earlier death than expected. Those who are able to confront and accept the hardships associated with the disease in a way that aligns with their beliefs benefit from more positive psychological outcomes compared to those who are aware of their diagnosis but are unable to accept it. To date, there is limited research exploring factors contributing to illness and death acceptance in the context of advanced cancer in group therapy settings. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: The current study used a Directed Content Analysis approach on transcripts of online advanced cancer support groups to investigate if and how Yalom’s existential factors played a role in the emergence of acceptance. <i>Results</i>: The online support group platform, combined with the help of facilitators, offered supportive environments for individuals seeking help with cancer-related distress by helping patients move towards acceptance. Some participants had already begun the process of accepting their diagnosis before joining the group, others developed acceptance during the group process, while a few continued to be distressed. Our analysis revealed the emergence of four themes related to illness acceptance: (1) Facilitator-Initiated Discussion, including sub-themes of Mindfulness, Relaxation and Imagery, Changing Ways of Thinking, and Spirituality; (2) Personal attitudes, including sub-themes of Optimism and Letting Go of Control; (3) Supportive Environment, including the sub-themes of Providing Support to Others and Receiving Support from Others; and (4) Existential Experience, which included sub-themes of Living with the Diagnosis for an Extended Amount of Time, Legacy and Death Preparations, and Appreciating life. <i>Conclusions</i>: With a paradigm shift to online delivery of psychological services, recognizing factors that contribute to acceptance when dealing with advanced cancer may help inform clinical practices. Future studies should explore patient acceptance longitudinally to inform whether it emerges progressively, which has been suggested by Kübler-Ross. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:17:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2220ce2cdab740e6a4fcb02a92de96d7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:17:31Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj.art-2220ce2cdab740e6a4fcb02a92de96d72023-11-23T00:16:43ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442021-10-015711116810.3390/medicina57111168Pathways to Acceptance in Participants of Advanced Cancer Online Support GroupsChristina Francesca Pereira0Kate Cheung1Elyse Alie2Jiahui Wong3Mary Jane Esplen4Yvonne W. Leung5de Souza Institute, Toronto, ON M5T 1V4, Canadade Souza Institute, Toronto, ON M5T 1V4, Canadade Souza Institute, Toronto, ON M5T 1V4, Canadade Souza Institute, Toronto, ON M5T 1V4, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty or Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canadade Souza Institute, Toronto, ON M5T 1V4, Canada<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Individuals with cancer, especially advanced cancer, are faced with numerous difficulties associated with the disease, including an earlier death than expected. Those who are able to confront and accept the hardships associated with the disease in a way that aligns with their beliefs benefit from more positive psychological outcomes compared to those who are aware of their diagnosis but are unable to accept it. To date, there is limited research exploring factors contributing to illness and death acceptance in the context of advanced cancer in group therapy settings. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: The current study used a Directed Content Analysis approach on transcripts of online advanced cancer support groups to investigate if and how Yalom’s existential factors played a role in the emergence of acceptance. <i>Results</i>: The online support group platform, combined with the help of facilitators, offered supportive environments for individuals seeking help with cancer-related distress by helping patients move towards acceptance. Some participants had already begun the process of accepting their diagnosis before joining the group, others developed acceptance during the group process, while a few continued to be distressed. Our analysis revealed the emergence of four themes related to illness acceptance: (1) Facilitator-Initiated Discussion, including sub-themes of Mindfulness, Relaxation and Imagery, Changing Ways of Thinking, and Spirituality; (2) Personal attitudes, including sub-themes of Optimism and Letting Go of Control; (3) Supportive Environment, including the sub-themes of Providing Support to Others and Receiving Support from Others; and (4) Existential Experience, which included sub-themes of Living with the Diagnosis for an Extended Amount of Time, Legacy and Death Preparations, and Appreciating life. <i>Conclusions</i>: With a paradigm shift to online delivery of psychological services, recognizing factors that contribute to acceptance when dealing with advanced cancer may help inform clinical practices. Future studies should explore patient acceptance longitudinally to inform whether it emerges progressively, which has been suggested by Kübler-Ross.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/57/11/1168acceptanceadvanced cancermindfulnessdistressexistential sufferingsocial support |
| spellingShingle | Christina Francesca Pereira Kate Cheung Elyse Alie Jiahui Wong Mary Jane Esplen Yvonne W. Leung Pathways to Acceptance in Participants of Advanced Cancer Online Support Groups Medicina acceptance advanced cancer mindfulness distress existential suffering social support |
| title | Pathways to Acceptance in Participants of Advanced Cancer Online Support Groups |
| title_full | Pathways to Acceptance in Participants of Advanced Cancer Online Support Groups |
| title_fullStr | Pathways to Acceptance in Participants of Advanced Cancer Online Support Groups |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pathways to Acceptance in Participants of Advanced Cancer Online Support Groups |
| title_short | Pathways to Acceptance in Participants of Advanced Cancer Online Support Groups |
| title_sort | pathways to acceptance in participants of advanced cancer online support groups |
| topic | acceptance advanced cancer mindfulness distress existential suffering social support |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/57/11/1168 |
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