Effect of Self–Help Group on the Psychological Dimension of Quality of Life of Adolescents with Cancer

Abstract

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine the effect of a
self–help group on a psychological dimension of the quality of life of adolescents with cancer. The sample consisted of adolescents aged 11 to 17 years who had been diagnosed with cancer and admitted at one university hospital in Southern, Thailand. Purposive
sampling was used to select subjects. Data collection was first conducted in the control group (n = 25) and then in the experimental group (n = 25). The experimental group received the usual nursing care and participated in a self–help group. The control group received the usual nursing care. Data were collected using the demographic data and the psychological dimension of quality of life questionnaires. All questionnaires were tested for content validity by three experts and the psychological dimension of quality of life questionnaire was tested for reliability, yielding a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.86. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and t-test.
The results revealed that the mean score of the psychological dimension of quality
of life in the experimental group after the intervention was significantly higher than that of before the intervention (t = -12.01, p = 0.000). The mean score of the psychological dimension of quality of life in the experimental group after the intervention was significantly higher than that of the control group (t = -9.87, p = 0.000).
It is recommended that nurses provide the self–help group to enhance the psychological dimension of quality of life in these adolescents.