Ji-Wei Wang1, Tian-Rui Zhang2, Qian Shen2, Zhi-Qi Yang2, Cong Liu2, Si-Jia Chen2, Jiang Li3, Zheng-Nian Luo4, Zheng-Ping Yuan5, Jin-Ming Yu6. 1. School of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, 130 Dong-An Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. jiweiwang@fudan.edu.cn. 2. School of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, 130 Dong-An Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. 3. Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, 650 Charles Young Drive South, Los Angeles, California, USA. 4. Shanghai Health Education Association, Shanghai, China. 5. Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Club, Shanghai, China. 6. School of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, 130 Dong-An Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. jmy@fudan.edu.cn.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Cancer survivors are often embroiled in various physical and psycho-social issues as a consequence of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Psycho-social support activities in the phase of rehabilitation were provided to enhance their quality of life. This study seeks to explore and understand their experience of engagement in Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Club (SCRC). METHODS: Sixty-eight participants attended eight semi-structured focus group interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis framework was adopted for data analysis. RESULTS: The participants reported benefits such as psychological support, informational provision and tangible support in the activities. Public services were reported to have restored their dignity and enabled them to rediscover their own meaning of life. Participants also pointed out challenges on functioning and opportunity for development of SCRC. CONCLUSIONS: The psycho-social support activities of SCRC had influenced cancer survivor's life. Public health resources and supportive policies should be in place to support local self-help cancer rehabilitation groups.
PURPOSE:Cancer survivors are often embroiled in various physical and psycho-social issues as a consequence of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Psycho-social support activities in the phase of rehabilitation were provided to enhance their quality of life. This study seeks to explore and understand their experience of engagement in Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Club (SCRC). METHODS: Sixty-eight participants attended eight semi-structured focus group interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis framework was adopted for data analysis. RESULTS: The participants reported benefits such as psychological support, informational provision and tangible support in the activities. Public services were reported to have restored their dignity and enabled them to rediscover their own meaning of life. Participants also pointed out challenges on functioning and opportunity for development of SCRC. CONCLUSIONS: The psycho-social support activities of SCRC had influenced cancer survivor's life. Public health resources and supportive policies should be in place to support local self-help cancer rehabilitation groups.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cancer survivors; Psycho-social support activities; Qualitative research; Quality of life; Self-help group