Therapeutic intervention in the treatment of adult patients with metastatic cancer : a comparative study of two group counseling approaches

• Main Author: Cumbia, Gilbert Garner
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: W&M ScholarWorks 1985
• Subjects: Psychiatric and Mental Health
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd/1539618884; https://scholarworks.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2094&context=etd

The purpose of this study was to analyze the efficacy of two group counseling approaches upon adult patients diagnosed with metastatic cancer since August 1, 1980. Eighteen adult outpatients from metropolitan Richmond, Virginia area hospitals were the subjects. All were volunteers and were randomly assigned, using a modified random sampling procedure, to a nondirective, stress management, or control group. Five personality characteristics were examined: state anxiety, trait anxiety, self-esteem, innerdirectedness, and time competence.;The nondirective and stress management groups met for 90 minute sessions twice a week for five consecutive weeks. The control group did not meet. Each group facilitator distributed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Tennessee Self Concept Scale, and the Personal Orientation Inventory to the participants at an eleventh session and explained the directions. These assessment instruments were self-administered at home. Proper test-taking procedures were stressed by the facilitator. The same instruments were taken to the homes of the control group members for self-administration.;The research design used in this study was the Posttest-Only Control Group Design. The statistical procedure employed was the analysis of variance. Five null hypotheses provided the basis for testing for significant differences ((alpha) = .05) among the nondirective, stress management, and control groups on posttest anxiety, self-esteem, innerdirectedness, and time competence measures.;Analyses of the test data revealed that there was no significant difference among the nondirective, stress management, and control groups on any of the posttest measures. The investigator failed to reject all five null hypotheses.;Individual post-group interviews were conducted within two weeks of the termination of each group. They served as a validity check of the instrumentation results, and a content analysis was conducted with the interview data. The interview data analyses revealed that there was no appreciable difference among the nondirective, stress management, and control groups. There was, however, a qualitative difference when comparing the nondirective and stress management groups with the control group. In each treatment group, the group experience was credited for a diminution of stress and anxiety and an enhancement of self-esteem, innerdirectedness, and time competence. The control group period did not appear to be as meaningful or beneficial.