The Effectiveness of an Online Support Group in Enhancing Recovery Identity and Health-Related Quality of Life

Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Status: Completed

Conditions: Ovarian Cancer

Treatments: Behavioral: offline support group (control group); Behavioral: mobile online support group (experiment group)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06145295

507079

Details and patient eligibility

About

Background Ovarian cancer poses challenges for middle-aged and older patients, impacting physical and self-conceptual aspects. A research gap exists on the impact of online support groups (SPs) on identity synthesis and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) for these patients.

Objective To assess the feasibility and efficacy of an online SG in influencing recovery identity and HRQOL in middle-aged and older ovarian cancer patients (MDOCP).

Method A four-week randomized controlled trial, followed by a three-month evaluation, was conducted, employing a mobile online SG and an offline SG both grounded in The Social Identity Model of Identity Change. Recovery identity, HRQOL, and participant engagement were utilized to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of interventions.

Enrollment: 68 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 45+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Older than 44 years old
• diagnosis of ovarian cancer
• expected survival time of greater than four months
• fluent in using smartphones and the WeChat mini program
• normal cognitive function
• capability to participate in follow-up surveys.

Exclusion criteria

• were currently participating in or had previously participated in other mental treatment groups
• had been diagnosed with any other type of cancer.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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68 participants in 2 patient groups

experiment group (online support group)

Experimental group

Description:

The experimental group engaged with the mobile application use for four weeks, with specific tasks including completing the four mandatory courses within one month and submitting at least two health records and online posts every week.

Treatment:

Behavioral: mobile online support group (experiment group)

control group

Other group

Description:

The control group participates in the offline group intervention that last for four weeks. Participants in the control group will participant in four weekly workshop that last between 1 hour to 1.5 hours.

Treatment:

Behavioral: offline support group (control group)