(UroToday.com) Patient support groups can help patients integrate complex medical information to understand their disease and optimize their health through adjunctive measures such as diet, exercise, and stress relief. However, in-person traditional support groups can be hard to find in more sparsely populated settings, and often constitute men across the spectrum of prostate cancer, and thus may not be ideal for an individual patient. The AnCan foundation started doing telephone conferences for virtual peer-led support groups in 2010 and transitioned to video chat meetings in 2015. This allows patients who otherwise might not have a nearby support group or have logistical challenges getting to the site of support groups, to participate in support groups comprising of patients with disease status similar to theirs.
To assess the impact of AnCan sessions, the organization sent a survey questionnaire to 1,174 men within their database as well as a second survey questionnaire to 1,200 men on active surveillance. These questions aimed to assess how information acquired through AnCan session impacted treatment decisions, rapport with a patient’s medical team, and quality of life. A total of 238 patients responded to the general questionnaire, and 165 active surveillance patients responded. Most patients found the information discussed in AnCan sessions to be useful and incorporated this information into healthcare proxy discussions and to self-advocate. A substantial minority of patients felt they had improved diet and exercise habits as well as reduced stress related to participation in AnCan.
For patients on active surveillance, almost half said AnCan sessions helped them learn new information that helped them to stay on active surveillance. Furthermore, most patients felt that an active surveillance focused support group was uniquely helpful and would recommend this to others.
Dr. Herbert Geller and colleagues concluded from their survey data that AnCan virtual peer groups provide patients with peer support independent of geographic location and mobility status, increase patient knowledge to positively impact treatment, promote lifestyle improvements, and empower patients to self-advocate. They hope that virtual peer groups can be included in treatment guideline recommendations, especially for patients with advanced disease.
Presented by: Herbert M. Geller, PhD, The AnCan Foundation (Answer Cancer)
Written by: Alok K. Tewari, MD, PhD, medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, @aloktewar on Twitter during the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary (ASCO GU) Cancers Symposium, Thursday Feb 17 – Saturday Feb 19, 2022