Support Groups in Coping with Cancer

Yıl 2010, Cilt: 21 Sayı: 1, 59 - 71, 15.04.2010

Tarık Tuncay

Öz

The
article discusses characteristics and the helpful and potentially risky aspects
of cancer support groups. One of the primary objectives of cancer treatment is
enhancement of patients’ cognitive, psychological and emotional well-being.
Patients with cancer need effective psychosocial interventions to improve their
illness adjustment. Support groups are one type of intervention instruments for
patients and have been shown to have beneficial outcomes on psychosocial
well-being. In general, people join support groups when their natural social
support network is inadequate, or unable to meet their psychosocial needs.
Participation in support groups by patients with cancer is associated with
reduced levels of depression and anxiety, and with improvement in quality of
life, problem focused coping strategies and illness adaptation. On the other
hand, many benefits can be derived from cancer support groups, but there are
also potentially some of the challenges patients may encounter. It may be
difficult to consider the needs of the members in a group, and some patients
may be neglected. In addition, patients who disclose information about
themselves without getting appropriate support from the group leader and other
members may be harmed by the group experience. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

Cancer, support group

KANSERLE BAŞETMEDE DESTEK GRUPLARI

Öz

Bu
makalede, kanser destek gruplarının özelliklerinin yanı sıra, hastalar
açısından hem yararlı olan hem de potansiyel riskler taşıyan yönleri
tartışılmaktadır. Kanser tedavisinin temel amaçlarından birisi hastaların
bilişsel, psikolojik ve duygusal esenliklerinin korunmasıdır. Kanser hastaları
hastalığa uyum sağlayabilmek için etkili psiko-sosyal müdahalelere
gereksinim duyarlar. Destek grupları hastalar için bu müdahale araçlarından
birisidir ve destek grupları sayesinde psiko-sosyal esenlik bakımından yararlı
sonuçlar elde edildiği görülmektedir. İnsanlar genelde, doğal sosyal
destek ağları yetersiz olduğunda ya da psiko-sosyal gereksinimleri karşılanamadığında
destek gruplarına katılmaktadırlar. Kanser hastalarının destek gruplarına
katılması azalan düzeylerde depresyon ve anksiyetenin yanı sıra artan yaşam
kalitesi, sorun odaklı başetme stratejileri ve hastalık uyumuna işaret
etmektedir. Öte yandan, kanser destek gruplarının birçok yararı olsa da,
hastaların karşılaşması olası bazı riskler potansiyel olarak mevcuttur.
Grupta üyelerin tümüne eşit davranılması güç olabilir ve bazı hastalar
ihmal edilebilir. Ayrıca, kendileri hakkında bilgi paylaşan hastalar grup
liderinden ve diğer üyelerden uygun desteği alamadığında grup deneyiminden
zarar görebilirler. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

Kanser, destek grubu

Kaynakça

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