460P - Group to grow: A systematic review of group-based interventions for post-traumatic growth on cancer patients

Background

Cancer diagnosis and treatment can give rise to psychological challenges for patients. Amidst the adversity, there exists the potential for post-traumatic growth (PTG), a phenomenon characterized by positive psychological changes and personal development following traumatic experiences. Group-based interventions have emerged as a promising avenue for fostering PTG among individuals with cancer. This systematic review aims to assess the group-based interventions designed to facilitate PTG in cancer patients.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted among PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct, and Scopus. Keywords used were group-based intervention, group therapy, PTG, positive psychological change, and cancer. Publications were limited to English manuscripts published in the last 10 years. Quality of each studies were assessed with Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).

Results

This review encompassed a selection of 12 studies, with 970 individuals aged above 18 years. The sampled patients displayed wide cancer types, including breast, gynaecologic, hematologic, head and neck, gastrointestinal, urological, and lymphoma. Group therapies in this review were mindfulness-based psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural stress management, acceptance and commitment therapy, supportive and positive group therapy, art and relaxation response resiliency mind-body program, varied from 5-12 sessions. The primary assessment tool is Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). The findings suggest that group interventions contribute to the personal strength, positive affect, and sense of meaning in cancer-related trauma. While positive trends were observed, the magnitude of PTG outcomes varied, likely influenced by duration, composition, and participant readiness for growth.

Conclusions

To conclude, this systematic review assesses the potential of group-based interventions as resource in promoting PTG among cancer patients. Nevertheless, the variations in outcomes across studies emphasize the need for interventions, accounting for individual differences. This review contributes to our understanding of the relationship between group-based interventions and PTG among cancer patients, paving the way for further research.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

D. G. William.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.