Group cognitive behavioral intervention combined with Wechat for improvement on life quality of cancer patients in communities

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of group cognitive behavioral intervention combined with internet on the quality of life and mood for community cancer patients.

MethodsTotally 122 patients previously diagnosed with cancer in Yingbo and Beicai communities participated in this open controlled trial.Of them, 54 patients in Yingbo community joined the intervention group, including 6 face to face therapies and 15 WeChat group communications, whereas 56 patients in Beicai community were cared as usual.All participants completed baseline measures and post-intervention measures (after 21 interventions) questionnaire consisting of the Cancer Quality-of-life Core Questionnaire(QLQ-C30), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS).

ResultsAfter 21 weeks of psychological interventions, participants′ score of global quality of life and emotion function were significantly higher (P < 0.05), and there were significantly decreases on scores of SAS and SDS compared with the baseline assessment.There were no significant changes on the scores of QLQC30 and SAS in the control group over time(P > 0.05).

ConclusionThis study provides evidence for the positive effect of group psychological therapy combined with internet for community cancer patients on their quality of life, depression and anxiety mood.