Improving Health-Promoting Behaviors and Quality of Life through Breast Cancer Support Groups for Thai Women

The purpose of this two-group, quasi-experimental study with repeated measures was to examine the effects of a 5-weekly health-promotion cancer support group intervention with three monthly telephone support on health-promoting behaviors and quality of life in Thai women with recently diagnosed breast cancer. The sample consisted of 59 breast cancer women receiving treatment; 29 women were assigned to experimental group and 30 women to control group. Data were collected at three times: baseline prior to the intervention (T1), within two weeks of completion of 5-weekly 1 1/2 hour group sessions (T2), and at six months (T3). Research instruments for data collection were Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast scale and Health Promotion Life Style Profile II for assessing quality of life and health-promoting behaviors respectively. Using repeated measures ANOVA, the results revealed that women in experimental group, compared with those in control group, demonstrated significant improvement of health-promoting behaviors and quality of life both in short-term (Week 5-7) and long-term (6 months). These findings suggest that the health promotion cancer group support may be an efficacious psychosocial intervention for changing health behaviors and improvement of quality of life in Thai women with breast cancer during and after treatment. Nurses should promote cancer support group participation aiming at changing health-promoting behaviors for patients with cancer as a crucial part of their nursing care.