A Trial Testing Professional and Peer-led Support Online Support Groups for Young Canadian Breast Cancer Survivors

Young women who have finished treatment for breast cancer regularly report a lack of psychological and social support in their lives. They often continue to struggle with survivorship issues such as ongoing distress and the challenge of how to rebuild their lives after treatment. This experiment will compare two online support group (OSG) options to determine if both forms of support help young breast cancer survivors adjust, by reducing treatment-related intrusions and helping women re-engage in valued activities and commitments. It will also test if these 2 types of OSG's help womens' mood, feelings of loneliness, confidence, and overall life satisfaction. It will explore the processes within support groups that help to create positive change for young women after cancer treatment. Previous work by this team in a smaller study has shown that online support groups led by professional counselors can be carried out over the Internet, and that they produce helpful benefits for young women survivors of breast cancer. The online groups were comprised of 10 sessions of real time chats, with each session focused on a specific topic. Participants were provided with an educational manual designed to improve skills for coping after cancer, and they were instructed to read one chapter a week in preparation for the chats. The women enjoyed the groups and 3 months after completing the groups, they reported improved quality of life, lower emotional distress, and enhanced coping. However, a large study to determine the strength and reliability of these early promising findings is needed. The questions to be examined are whether trained peers (other young breast cancer survivors) might be able to facilitate the online groups and provide similar positive benefits for young breast cancer survivors, and what facilitators can do to maximize positive benefits in online support groups. This is a multi-provincial, 3-arm study that will compare a professionally-led OSG (with an educational manual) and a peer-led OSG (with an education manual) with a group that just receives the educational manual. Psychological assessment measures given immediately following the 12 week group, and at 6 months and 12 months follow-up, will determine if one or both of the study groups effectively improve quality of life, reduce distress, and enhance self-efficacy and life satisfaction for young breast cancer survivors. Additionally, tests will be performed to investigate whether discussing emotional matters predicts greater improvements.

Sex

Female

Minimum age

18 Years

Maximum age

45 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* less than 46 years old with primary breast cancer

Exclusion Criteria:

* older than 45 and in active treatment