Effects of supportive-expressive discussion groups on loneliness, hope and quality of life in breast cancer survivors: a randomized control trial

Evaluation of the effect of supportive expressive discussion groups on loneliness, hope and
quality of life in breast cancer survivors.
Methods: A randomized control trial including breast cancer patients who had completed chemotherapy
and randomly allocated into two groups: intervention (n = 41) and control (n = 40). The intervention
consisted of twelve weekly 90-min sessions for groups of six to eight breast cancer survivors. Data were
obtained pre-to -post the intervention and at 8-week follow-up. The data were analyzed using a
repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Results: The findings revealed a significant reduction in loneliness scores (F=69.85, p<0.001), promotion
in total hope (F= 20.8, p<0.05) and enhancement in quality of life from pre- to post-intervention,
and then over the 8-week follow-up period in the intervention group, while scores of control participants
did not show this pattern during the study. The strongest effects were found for global quality of life
(effect size) = 0.59), for future perspectives (effect size = 0.51), emotional functioning (effect size = 0.35)
and social functioning (effect size = 0.31).
Conclusion: The intervention was effective on loneliness, hope and quality of life in the intervention
group. The intervention needs further evaluation in a larger study and with other cancer types