Therapeutic effectiveness of a psychoeducational group intervention: an exploratory study in oncology

Este estudo avaliou a eficácia de uma intervenção psicoeducacional em grupo destinada a promover habilidades adaptativas de enfrentamento, minimizar o distress e melhorar a qualidade de vida entre pacientes oncológicos em início de quimioterapia. Da intervenção, composta por seis encontros, participaram três mulheres, que foram avaliadas antes, logo após e três meses depois da participação, utilizando-se a Escala de Modos de Enfrentamento, o questionário WHOQOL-bref e a Psychological Screening Tool for Cancer Patients. Uma outra paciente, que não participou do grupo, teve seus resultados comparados aos das demais. Imediatamente após, houve melhora significativa para as integrantes do grupo: aumento de estratégias focalizadas no problema, busca de suporte social e qualidade de vida, bem como redução de ansiedade e depressão. A paciente que não participou da intervenção grupal obteve indicadores menos favoráveis. Nas reavaliações, os resultados se mantiveram, indicando que o grupo psicoeducacional atingiu seus objetivos terapêuticos.The following study evaluated the effectiveness of a psychoeducational group intervention designed to promote adaptive coping abilities, minimize distress and improve quality of life in oncology patients during the initial phase of chemotherapy. Three women made up the intervention group, organized into six weekly meetings and they were evaluated before, immediately following and three months after the intervention. The Ways of Coping Scale; WHOQOL-BREF and the Psychological Screening Tool for Cancer Patients were used as evaluation instruments. Another patient, who did not attend the group, had her results compared to the others. Immediately after the intervention, a significant improvement was observed in the group members: increase in problem-focused coping strategies, search for social support and quality of life, as well as a reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression. The patient who did not participate in the intervention group obtained less favorable results. In the reevaluations, these results were maintained, indicating that the psychoeducational group intervention achieved its therapeutic goals