The importance of participation in support groups for women with ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To explore the experience of participation in support groups for women recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

RESEARCH APPROACH

Exploratory, qualitative.

SETTING

Oncology department in a hospital in western Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

10 Swedish women, aged 42-76, who recently had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and had participated in support groups.

METHODOLOGIC APPROACH

Data were collected by semistructured interviews and analyzed using grounded theory.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES

Ovarian cancer, support group experience.

FINDINGS

Three categories emerged from the data analysis: sharing experiences and emotions, exchanging informational support, and exchanging emotional support. The core category was the experience of being in the same boat. Trust, openness, and willingness to create space for each other were experienced.

CONCLUSIONS

Support groups offer an opportunity to share experiences and emotions as well as exchange information. They are also a possible source of emotional support and therefore can contribute to quality of life of patients with ovarian cancer.

INTERPRETATION

Knowing that others had similar symptoms and reactions, and that those experiences are normal, was very important for support group participants. Nurses can reduce patients' fears and uncertainties by confirming normality. Oncology nurses need to be aware that cancer support groups offer a unique opportunity to interact with others in a similar situation. Participation in support groups can be an important source of emotional and informational support for patients. The support program in this study may be used as a model when planning for extended emotional and informational support.