Support Group Approach Research Articles

Effect of Support Group Approach on Behavior, Stress, and Coping Factors Among the Family Caregivers of Head Injury Survivors

Background: Head injuries may lead to permanent disabilities or death. Long-term complications and health problems of the patients may impact the physical and mental health of the family caregivers. Support group approach helps the caregivers to deal with the circumstances that may arise during the care of their survivors. Objective: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of support group approach on risk of development of health and behavior problems, level of stress, and coping level among the caregivers of the head injury survivors. Materials and Methods: A quasiexperimental study was conducted in Neurosurgery Units, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. A total of 60 caregivers (30 each in control and experimental groups) were enrolled by total enumeration technique. Data were collected using an interviewing schedule consisting (a) sociodemographic profile of the caregivers, (b) caregiver self-assessment questionnaire, (c) the Kingston caregiver stress scale, and (d) coping scale. The caregivers in the control group received routine care. In the experimental group, they were involved in group discussions during support group meetings. Various methods of dealing with stress, risk for development of health and/or behavior problems, coping strategies were discussed in the support group meetings where the teachings and demonstrations were given to the caregivers. In support group meetings, the caregivers discussed their problems and expressed their ideas and coping strategies to solve their problems. An information booklet on the same was also given to them. The follow-up was carried out at 15 days and 1.5 months of the enrollment of the patients. Results: The risk of development of health and behavior problems decreased in both the experimental and control groups. Median values of caregiver’s stress score was significantly less in the experimental group ( P < .01) as compared to the control group. All the caregivers in the experimental group and only 10.0% in the control group had above average coping to deal with the problems in their day-to-day activities. Conclusion: “Support group approach” for the caregivers of head injury caregivers was found to be effective in terms of decreasing the risk of development of health and behavior problems, improving coping, and reducing stress among the caregivers. Therefore, support group approach can be encouraged in order to enhance the knowledge and confidence of the caregivers to deal with the problems of the patients.

Effectiveness of support group approach on the level of fatigue and pain in patients with cervical cancer: A Quasi-experimental Study

Effectiveness of support group approach on the level of fatigue and pain in patients with cervical cancer: A Quasi-experimental Study

Effectiveness of support group approach on the level of fatigue and pain in patients with cervical cancer: A Quasi-experimental Study

Effectiveness of support group approach on the level of fatigue and pain in patients with cervical cancer: A Quasi-experimental Study

A randomized control trial to test a peer support group approach for reducing social isolation and depression among female Mexican immigrants

BackgroundFemale Mexican Immigrants (FMIs) experience high rates of depression compared with other populations. For this population, depression is often exacerbated by social isolation associated with the experience of immigration.Aim 1. To measure whether a culturally situated peer group intervention will reduce depression and stress associated with the experience of immigration.Aim 2. To test whether an intervention using a “women’s funds of knowledge” approach results in improved resilience, knowledge and empowerment.Aim 3. To investigate whether a culturally situated peer group intervention using a women’s funds of knowledge approach can give participants a sense and experience of social and physical connection (“emplacement”) that is lost in the process of immigration.MethodsThis mixed-methods study will implement “Tertulias” (“conversational gatherings” in Spanish), a peer support group intervention designed to improve health outcomes for FMI participants in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We will document results of the intervention on our primary hypotheses of a decrease in depression, and increases in resilience and social support, as well as on our secondary hypotheses of decreased stress (including testing of hair cortisol as a biomarker for chronic stress), and an increase in social connectedness and positive assessment of knowledge and empowerment.DiscussionThis project will address mental health disparities in an underserved population that experiences high rates of social isolation. Successful completion of this project will demonstrate that health challenges that may appear too complex and too hard to address can be using a multi-level, holistic approach. Our use of hair samples to test for the 3-month average levels of systemic cortisol will contribute to the literature on an emerging biomarker for analyzing chronic stress.Trial registrationThis study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on 2/3/20, Identifier #NCT04254198.

Holistic support coupled with prospective tracking reduces abandonment in childhood cancers: A report from India.

High cure rates of over 80% in childhood cancers reported from high-income countries (HICs) are not replicated in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Treatment abandonment (TxA) is an important reason for this poorer outcome. We assessed the effect of a holistic support group approach coupled with prospective tracking on TxA in children with cancer in a limited-resources environment. In 2010, all existing nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working with childhood cancer at our hospital were brought together to form a pediatric cancer foundation with the aim of providing holistic support to the patient and family, including financial, psychosocial, lodging, educational, and bereavement support. Simultaneously, prospective tracking of all children with a Time-Responsive Electronic Abandonment Tracking (TREAT) system was also established. The impact of these measures on TxA over the 2009-2016 period was compared using the log-rank test. The annual rate of abandonment reduced from 20% in 2009 to 10.4% in 2010 and 5.2% in 2011. It has been consistently between 3% and 6% from 2012 to 2016 (P -0.04). TxA after the initiation of treatment dropped from 9% in 2009 to 1% in 2016 (P -0.02), while refusal to initiate treatment dropped from 11% to 2.7% (P -0.23) over the same period. A holistic support group consisting of the hospital team, as well as existing NGOs and governmental organizations, along with a systematic and prospective tracking system significantly reduced abandonment in a resource-constrained setting. This cost-effective holistic support group may be applicable in other LMICs with similar healthcare systems.

Process Evaluation of a Multi-Component “Sit Less, Walk More” Workplace Intervention for Office Workers

Sit Less, Walk More (SLWM) workplace intervention was designed for office workers with demonstrated efficacy in improving walking and some cardiometabolic biomarkers. However, little is known about the participants’ perceptions of the program and each program component’s contribution to observed program effects. PURPOSE: To evaluate participants’ perceptions of and engagement with the program components in the SLWM to understand program effects. METHOD: Process evaluation data were collected during and immediately after the 12-week intervention period. The SLWM included multi-components: three monthly newsletters, six biweekly motivational tools, a team-based 10,000 steps challenge, environmental prompts, and walking routes and resources. A survey contained both closed and open-ended questions assessing frequency of use and perceptions of program components; factors that hindered the use of program components; and recommendations for improving program components. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-one (100%) intervention participants completed the post-intervention survey. Their ages ranged from 30 to 62 (mean = 52.1, SD = 6.57). The majority of participants were married (92.2%) and highly educated (60.8% had a college or graduate degree). Most participants were satisfied with the SLWM program (84.3%) and thought the program to be beneficial (78.4%) and effective (74.5%) to them in increasing physical activity and decreasing sitting behavior. Participants reported the 10,000 steps challenge to be the most helpful component because of the motivation and encouragement elicited by the pedometer and Step Log (79.6%), goal setting (45.5%), and the use of the support group approach as well as rewards and recognition for group competition (29.6%). The walking route was not received well by the participants. The reasons for this included time constraints due to work or family obligations (54.1%), physical environment issues primarily due to weather (21.6%), and using their own preferred methods of exercise or walking routes (13.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide a better understanding of the use and preference for different program components and how future SLWM workplace intervention for office workers could be provided. Supported by MOST Grant.

Exploring experiences of informal carers of mental health: Developing community intervention in social work in Jordan

The purpose of this article is to generate meaningful understanding of the mental health informal carers’ experience and to identify a possible approach to social work intervention. A mixed method of quantitative and qualitative analysis was used for data collection. The findings reveal that most of the informal carers are female adult. They experience stress, domestic violence, social exclusion as a result of the caring role, and fear of stigma. Cultural and religious factors must be considered when translating the caring role. The findings suggest implications for social work practice at a community level, utilizing a familial and support-group approach, with a practice that is sensitive to gender and religion.

The support group approach in the Dutch KiVa anti-bullying programme: effects on victimisation, defending and well-being at school

Background: School bullying is a wide-spread problem with severe consequences for victims, bullies and bystanders. Schools are strongly encouraged to implement both schoolwide, preventive interventions and reactive measures to handle existing bullying situations. In the Dutch implementation of the KiVa anti-bullying programme, pervasive-bullying situations are addressed according to the support group approach. The support group approach is widely used for addressing bullying situations, but little is known about its effectiveness.Purpose: We investigated the effectiveness of the support group approach in reducing victimisation, increasing defending and improving the victim’s well-being over the course of a school year, over and beyond of the effects of the universal KiVa intervention.Programme description: The support group approach is a non-punitive, problem-solving strategy to address pervasive-bullying situations. In this intervention, trained teachers form a support group that consists of 6–8 children, including the bullies and their assistants, defenders or friends of the victim and prosocial classmates. The purpose of the support group is to create mutual concern for the well-being of the victim and to trigger the bullies’ willingness to alter their behaviour.Sample: We used data from 66 Dutch elementary schools that participated in the KiVa intervention study. Data were collected in October 2012 and 2013, and May 2013 and 2014. The sample used in the analyses consisted of 38 victims for whom a support group intervention was organised (44.7% boy, Mage = 9.24; SDage = 1.20).Design and method: To get insight into the effects above and beyond those of the KiVa programme itself, victims with a support group (N = 38) were matched to similar victims without a support group (N = 571). Statistical analyses were undertaken to examine whether the changes in victimisation, defending and well-being at school differed between the two groups.Result: Victims reported positive effects of the support group approach in reducing victimisation in the short term, but this decrease in victimisation was not lasting over the course of a school year. The intervention also did not improve the victims’ well-being at school in the longer term. Victims with a support group, however, were found to have more defenders at the end of the school year than victims without a support group.Conclusion: The effectiveness of the support group approach in tackling bullying situations appears to fade over time. The findings of this study illustrate that for future evaluations of anti-bullying interventions it is essential to investigate longer term effects.

Prime Time Sister Circles®II: Evaluating a Culturally Relevant Intervention to Decrease Psychological and Physical Risk Factors for Chronic Disease in Mid-Life African American Women

This article presents the results of two evaluation studies of the Prime Time Sister Circles(®) (PTSC). The PTSC is a gender, cultural, and age specific, curriculum-based, low-cost, short-term, replicable support group approach aimed at reducing key modifiable health risk factors for chronic illnesses in midlife African American women. Study 1 includes an evaluation of 31 PTSCs (N=656 women) documenting changes in psychological and attitudinal outcomes (health satisfaction, health locus of control), behavioral outcomes (healthy eating patterns, physical activity, stress management), and clinical outcomes (weight, BMI, blood pressure, non-fasting blood sugar). Study 2 includes evaluation of a subset of the PTSC sites (N=211 women) with comparison (N=55 women) data from those same locations. Study 1 showed significant changes (p<.0001) in the PTSC women's reports of (lower) stress, (higher) health locus of control, (increased) health satisfaction, (increased) physical activity, and (healthier) eating patterns. The PTSC women demonstrated a significant weight reduction at posttest (p <.0001) and had slightly better clinical outcomes in BMI, hypertension, and non-fasting blood sugar. Results document the sustainability of selected changes over a six-month period. Findings from the Study 2 strengthen the effectiveness claims of the PTSC intervention with significant changes for the PTSC women on selected outcomes and little changes for the comparison women. Results reaffirm findings regarding the effectiveness of the PTSC, as originally reported in Gaston, Porter, and Thomas (2007) and extends the credibility of findings by examining participants' clinical outcomes in addition to self-reports.

Interdisciplinary Co-Facilitation of Support Groups for Parents of Children with Autism: An Opportunity for Professional Preparation

Skillful cofacilitation of groups provides group members with shared leadership, combined knowledge, and broadened problem-solving capability. Interdisciplinary cofacilitation offers group members different points of view and diverse professional expertise. This article presents a support group approach for parents of children diagnosed with autism and describes the benefits of interdisciplinary cofacilitation by social workers and early childhood special educators. The advantages and challenges of interdisciplinary cofacilitation are discussed.

KinNET

The KinNET project came into existence because of the need to support a growing number of grandparents and other relatives providing care for children within the foster care system. It was a demonstration project funded by the Children's Bureau designed to create a national network of support groups for older relatives-mostly grandparents-caring for children in and associated with the foster care system. Grandparents and other relatives are an invaluable resource to the child welfare system. However, these caregivers are also an overburdened population that needs creative and supportive interventions to enhance their capacity to provide quality care and reduce the risks to the children. In this intervention the support group approach was tested (a replication of the Brookdale Foundation model with project management from Generations United). Support groups often provide kinship caregivers with access to important emotional and community support, information and referral, relaxation, and respite. This article briefly describes the project, a profile of the caregivers (n = 102) and the children in their care (n = 226), and highlights from the survey data. In addition, we discuss the three key lessons learned from the project and make recommendations to better serve this population. doi:10.1300/J045v22n03_14.

Using solution focused brief therapy in individual referrals for bullying

The authors work in a city local education authority Special Educational Needs Support Service with an Anti-Bullying Project that continues to develop effective approaches to dealing with bullying in schools. This paper describes the project's use of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and reports on the outcomes of a large number of interventions, particularly with pupils of secondary school age. The support group approach, developed within this project and published in Educational Psychology in Practice, is referred to in the government's anti-bullying pack as a key strategy. The authors show that SFBT provides another effective strategy to support pupils vulnerable to bullying in both primary and secondary schools.

Cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: a multicentre randomised controlled trial

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) seems a promising treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), but the applicability of this treatment outside specialised settings has been questioned. We compared CBT with guided support groups and the natural course in a randomised trial at three centres. Of 476 patients diagnosed with CFS, 278 were eligible and willing to take part. 93 were randomly assigned CBT (administered by 13 therapists recently trained in this technique for CFS), 94 were assigned the support-group approach, and 91 the control natural course. Multidimensional assessments were done at baseline, 8 months, and 14 months. The primary outcome variables were fatigue severity (on the checklist individual strength) and functional impairment (on the sickness impact profile) at 8 and 14 months. Data were analysed by intention to treat. 241 patients had complete data (83 CBT, 80 support groups, 78 natural course) at 8 months. At 14 months CBT was significantly more effective than both control conditions for fatigue severity (CBT vs support groups 5.8 [2.2-9.4]; CBT vs natural course 5.6 [2.1-9.0]) and for functional impairment (CBT vs support groups 263 [38-488]; CBT vs natural course 222 [3-441]). Support groups were not more effective for CFS patients than the natural course. Among the CBT group, clinically significant improvement was seen in fatigue severity for 20 of 58 (35%), in Karnofsky performance status for 28 of 57 (49%), and self-rated improvement for 29 of 58 (50%). Prognostic factors for outcome after CBT were a higher sense of control predicting more improvement, and a passive activity pattern and focusing on bodily symptoms predicting less improvement. CBT was more effective than guided support groups and the natural course in a multicentre trial with many therapists. Our study showed a lower proportion of patients with improvement than CBT trials with a few highly skilled therapists.

The Support Group Approach to Bullying in Schools

Summary The Kingston upon Hull Special Educational Needs Support Service (SENSS) Anti‐Bullying Project has developed the support group approach to bullying, building particularly on the work of Maines and Robinson (1991, 1992). This article reports on the outcome of this type of intervention. It provides independent corroborative evidence of Maines and Robinson's findings and outlines the theoretical framework that leads to an understanding of why this approach is so successful.

Launching Adult Students into the Job Market: A Support Group Approach

The authors describe a structured job search support group for adult students.

Adjustment to diabetes—A support-group approach

Adjustment to diabetes—A support-group approach