A systematic evaluation of the "I Can Cope" program using a national sample.

"I Can Cope" (ICC) is an educational program that provides resources that help people with cancer, their families, and their friends to cope more adequately with the disease and its consequences. Although the American Cancer Society (ACS) has offered this program since 1979, ICC never has been evaluated nationally. ACS developed the ICC Revision Work Group in 1990. This work group initiated a national evaluation of ICC to provide data in eight areas: demographics, class format, course objectives, course content, audiovisual and instructional materials, facilitator training, program implementation, and program evaluation. During 1991, data were collected from 219 facilitators, 241 ACS staff members, and 973 ICC participants in 49 states. Revision of the ICC program using the results of this evaluation currently is underway.