A Comparative study of Friendship Therapy Groups for Thais with Colorectal Cancer and Colostomies

Authors

  • Aporacha Lumdubwong RN, PhD Candidate, Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand
  • Yupapin Sirapo-ngam RN, DSN, Associate Professor, Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand
  • Manee Arpananthikul RN, PhD, Associate Professor, Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand
  • Chukiat Viwatwongkasem PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Thailand
  • Nancy S. Redeker RN, PhD, FAHA, FAAN, Professor, Yale School of Nursing, Yale University, USA

Keywords:

Stress, Coping, Quality of life, Cancer patients with colostomies, Friendship therapy groups

Abstract

                  Patientswith cancer need strong social support to help them deal with life-threateningaspects of their illness and in Thailand The Friendship Therapy Group wasinitiated for this purpose in 2005. This comparative descriptive study exploredand compared the perceived stress, stress appraisal, coping, and quality oflife of patients with colorectal cancer and colostomies who participated inthis Group compared to those who did not. Of 87 patients with colostomies, 30 participated and 57 did not. Datawere collected in three hospitals via six instruments: the Personal InformationForm, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Stress Appraisal Index, theFunctional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal Cancer, the Waysof Coping Questionnaire, and the SocialActivity Participation and Evaluation Tool; and analyzed through descriptivestatistics, and MANOVA. Results showed that there were no significantdifferences in variables between groups. The mutually supportive activity wasthe group activity that they mostly preferred and thought it was helpful. Other activities may have been less relatedto mutual support; therefore the purpose of those activities of truly mutualsupport should not be lost. Understanding the stress, coping, and QOL, of thesegroups will be useful to help nurses guide the development of futureinterventions for these patients.

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Published

2014-03-19

How to Cite

1.
Lumdubwong A, Sirapo-ngam Y, Arpananthikul M, Viwatwongkasem C, Redeker NS. A Comparative study of Friendship Therapy Groups for Thais with Colorectal Cancer and Colostomies. PRIJNR [Internet]. 2014 Mar. 19 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];18(2):138-51. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/PRIJNR/article/view/12084

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Original paper