ArticleJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2020
"In the same boat"-a mixed-methods exploration of reasons why male gastrointestinal cancer patients joined a professionally led men-only cancer support group.
Article in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- Social relationship challenges perceived by cancer patients and survivors: a qualitative meta-synthesis.BMC psychology · 2025Pooled it
- Humanistic nursing tailored to the needs of young men with cancer.Canadian oncology nursing journal = Revue canadienne de nursing oncologique · 2023Article
- Article
- Social isolation in adults with cancer: An evolutionary concept analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2022Review
- The effectiveness of a men-only supportive expressive group therapy intervention for psychosocial health outcomes in gastrointestinal cancer patients: a 6-month longitudinal study.Health and quality of life outcomes · 2021Article
- Article
- Implementation Readiness and Initial Effects of a Brief Mindfulness Audio Intervention Compared With a Brief Music Control During Daily Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Pilot Study.Global advances in integrative medicine and healthArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeGastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients often suffer high rates of distress and social isolation, partially due to symptoms that are embarrassing or difficult to discuss with family or friends. Group support therapies mitigate illness-related stigma and standardization; however, men, in particular, are more averse to joining. Through an ongoing men-only GI cancer support group, this study sought to understand who joined the groups, what facilitated group uptake, and explore men's reasons for enrolling in the group.
methodsA mixed-methods study design and analysis were used. A qualitative design utilizing open-ended, semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis were used; Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) directed the inquiry towards facets of group uptake. Standardized measures were also used to assess distress, coping, and quality of life (QoL) and compared with normative values for cancer and general population. Data from qualitative and quantitative findings were triangulated.
resultsParticipants included 35 male GI cancer patients, aged 28-72, at varying stages of illness and treatment. Themes related to group uptake and enrollment were endorsement; composition; and attitudes, and reasons for joining were learning new coping techniques and affiliations with similar others. Men's QoL and psychological distress scores were on par with cancer patient norms. The scores obtained from quantitative scales corroborated with our qualitative findings.
conclusionsDespite psychosocial, demographic, and clinical variations, participants were keen on joining a male-only Supportive-Expressive Therapy (SET) group to address their emotional, informational, and supportive care needs and express their solidarity for other patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Findings bear clinical relevance for designing GI male-centered group formats that endorse men's needs and facilitate their accessibility to group support interventions.
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