Effect of a novel pilot support group on distress and quality of life in breast cancer patients in Nigeria.

Abstract

To assess the effect of a new breast cancer support group (BCSG) on breast cancer patients' self-reported distress and quality of life. A single arm pre-post trial providing an eight session healthcare provider led BCSG. Primary outcome variables were distress and quality of life assessed using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer (DT) and The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Breast plus Arm Morbidity (FACT-B+4), respectively. Topics in each session addressed a wide range of issues some of which were pre-selected by the patients themselves. Paired sample t-test was used for data analysis on International Business Machine Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 21. The participants (N=18) had a mean age of 51. Most had secondary school level education (54%), were traders (59%) and had stage 3 or 4 disease (67%). A larger proportion (78% or n=14) of the patients lived in rural areas, while 4 (22%) of the patients lived in Ibadan. Out of the 8 sessions, 12 (67%) of the participants attended 1-3 sessions while 6 (33%) attended 4-8 sessions. There were, significant improvements in emotional wellbeing (t=-4.253; p<0.05) and functional wellbeing (t=-2.191; p<0.05) on the FACT-B+4. There was a significant reduction in the DT score (t=2.345; p<0.05) but the number of items on the problem list were not significantly reduced (t=1.191; p>0.05). Majority (75%) of the patients rated the support group activities as satisfactory. These data show that the support group can benefit breast cancer patients in terms of reduced distress levels along with satisfaction and improvement in the functional and emotional wellbeing indices of quality of life.