self help groups

..To evaluate a newly developed education programme for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients...

..To investigate the efficacy of an Internet weight maintenance program...

..Web-based breast cancer social support groups are widely used, but little is known of their effectiveness. Preliminary evidence suggests that women benefit from their participation in web-based support groups...

..Developing virtual support groups and testing the effects on psychosocial indicators associated with adaptation to chronic illness may help remove barriers to adaptation...

..In this study, we identified the social and psychological characteristics of Danish cancer patients that determine use of the internet for support...

..Peer discussion groups were helpful for women who lacked support from their partners or physicians but harmful for women who had high levels of support. Implications of these results for clinical interventions are discussed...

..However, there is little data regarding the patterns of use and effectiveness of freely available Web-based interventions outside the context of controlled trials...

..These boards are of particular interest because they are free, accessible and support comes from peers and not from professional facilitators...

..The PBCers Organization (PBC stands for primary biliary cirrhosis) provides electronic mailinglists (listservs) and informational resources for those with primary biliary cirrhosis...

..Moreover, the distinction between attending meetings and actively participating in 12-step activities has not typically been examined...

..However, it is unclear if the positive effects demonstrated in these trials transfer to community users of such sites...

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..We provide recommendations for practitioners to improve evaluation studies and suggest a research agenda to develop better methods for assessing the contribution of peer support to quality of life...

..S., Australia, and Finland have demonstrated that multimodal counseling programmes led by professionals significantly reduce the number of nursing home admissions and therefore may have considerable importance for health economics...

..The current study examines whether clients in treatment for alcohol and drug problems benefit from helping others, and how helping relates to 12-step involvement...

..To compile and evaluate the evidence on the effects on health and social outcomes of computer based peer to peer communities and electronic self support groups, used by people to discuss health related issues remotely...

..The physician faced with this information should be unbiased but cautious...

..The few studies that were found in the literature suffered from a lack of experimental design, small and homogenous samples, and lack of outcome measures, thereby limiting applicability of results...

..Many individuals with depression use the internet for discussion of symptoms and to share their experience...

..These results highlight differences in the role of AA/NA within the substance misuse treatment system in the United Kingdom and that in the United States; possible explanations are discussed...

..The 'privacy' of the breast cancer forum facilitated interactions found in other studies to be characteristic of women's friendship groups...

..A number of studies have evaluated the nature and impact of depression-specific ISGs. However, to date there have been no published systematic reviews of this evidence...

..It was concluded that a computer-delivered intervention can improve social support and self-efficacy and reduce loneliness in rural women, enhancing their ability to self-manage and adapt to chronic illness...

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..The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a computer-mediated support group (CMSG) intervention for parents whose children had been diagnosed with cancer...

..This article demonstrates that participation in online support groups can make a valuable contribution to the emergence of empowered patients...

..In general, users were not very satisfied with smoking cessation Web sites, and they had difficulty finding the best Web sites. Resources were scattered over dozens of Web sites of often mediocre quality that duplicated each other...

..The findings, in this study, support Shaw et al. hypotheses. In their study, only one outcome measure, reduction of emotional distress was significant...

..Internet delivery was enthusiastically endorsed. The program offers a promising approach to improve body image and eating problems that also addresses geographic access problems...

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..Overall, this virtual self-help group represents a rational and useful addition to the existing possibilities for self help...

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..This study implemented and evaluated procedures to help clinicians make effective referrals to 12-Step self-help groups...

..The goals were to provide evidence about how this choice was made and to provide improved coefficient estimates, as well as to inform future analyses of treatment choice...

..Dropouts (39%) were high. Overall, patients showed improved quality of life; no overall changes were observed in depression. Participants in the homogenous groups reported a significant decrease in depression...

..Findings suggest that clinicians could benefit from information and training on assessing and referring clients to various options for continuing care...

..Given the growing role of ISGs for both users with depression and those with a physical disorder, there is a need to evaluate the evidence concerning the efficacy of ISGs in reducing depressive symptoms...

..Discussion of emotions and diagnoses were found in 42% and 34.6% of the messages, respectively. A review of the current status of online self-help groups and implications for practice are also provided...

..For improving treatment results, it may be most important to provide a treatment environment within the residential area so that alcoholics may receive treatment at an early stage of alcoholism and attend a self-help group...

..This report is a critical first step in evaluating the long-term effects of Internet-based support for diabetes self-management. The discussion identifies directions for future research...

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..It is concluded that the List fulfills the functions of a community, with future concerns about information control and the potential to enhance patient-provider understanding...

..Implications for program delivery are discussed. Planners may want to consider adding telephone support and newsletters to other supports already available for caregivers...

..Given that self-efficacy can predict outcome in the medium term, it is suggested that treatment could target this variable...

..In general, the findings indicate that the associations have a potential to help patients live and cope with their cancer disease...

..0001). Attention should be given to facilitating the entry of underserved groups into ICSGs. Future research should explore the relationship between ICSG membership and variables such as depression, survival time, and quality of life...

..To determine the long-term effects on quality of life (QOL) of women cancer survivors following a retreat experience...

..Implications for health providers and for better serving patients are analyzed together with recommendations for improving services for those who go online to access health information...

..Maintaining employment for recovering alcoholics may promote increased personal responsibility, which may impact self-efficacy beliefs. These pilot studies, then, raised both theoretical and practical issues needing further evaluation...

..Internet depression support groups warrant continued research regarding supplementation of face-to-face depression care...

..Internet-based depression communities provide a forum for individuals to communicate and share information and ideas. There has been little research into the health status and other characteristics of users of these communities...

..There are certain advantages and disadvantages of computer group use that need to be recognized and addressed by health professionals and users...

..Implications for social work and health care providers and the need for further research are discussed...

..However, further qualitative and observational research is required to harness the full potential of the Internet to deliver public health resources...

..The objectives of the present study were to explore the context through which dentally anxious individuals access an online support group and the nature of their online experiences...

..Self-reported rates of sustained abstinence (no tobacco use at two months and six months) were 24.5% for the manual/video condition, and 18.4%, for the LifeSign condition...

..Predominantly self-help therapies are efficacious for panic disorder and mixed anxiety samples. On the other hand, minimal-contact therapies have demonstrated efficacy for the greatest variety of anxiety diagnoses...

..Most studies of these mailing lists have investigated lists dedicated to one type of cancer, most often breast cancer. Little is known about whether the lessons learned from experiences with breast cancer lists apply to other cancers...

..These are highly acceptable to the public, easily applied, inexpensive and may avert the development of many clinical cases...

..We developed a new Web-based self-help intervention based on problem-solving therapy, which may be used for people with different types of comorbid problems: depression, anxiety, and work-related stress...

..CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that medical information available on Internet discussion groups may come from nonprofessionals and may be unconventional, based on limited evidence, and/or inappropriate...

..Also included in the interviews was the participants' descriptions of frequent barriers to recovery. An integration of informal networks with formal mental health services aided their recovery...

..The aim of this study is to examine the provision of social support in messages posted to a HD online support group bulletin board...

..Helping patients to correctly interpret symptoms and to understand the effectiveness of treatment may modify and reduce their uncertainty so that uncertainty leading to worse health outcomes may be reduced...

..Further research needs to be conducted to determine if conducting group appointments for women that fosters the development of connections and the exchange of information enriches the learning environment and enhances patient education...

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..The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of a nurse-led support and education programme for improving the spouses' perceived general quality of life, life situation, general well-being and health state...

..Thus far, international research on small groups has focused on health problems. Research on preventive, resource-, and family-oriented small groups and their impact on family health is scant...

..The aim of the research reported here was to evaluate teh 'Look after Your Legs'(LAYL) service and the benefit to others of the patient ambassador role...

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..The main questions addressed concerned what correspondents seem to be gaining from their involvement and whether the high-frequency correspondents differ motivationally from the lower-frequency correspondents...

..van den Heuvel's previous effect study showed positive effects of the same intervention program, but unlike our present study differences between the two support variants could not be measured...

..Barriers to nursing assessment of distress are included. Signs and symptoms are considered, especially in the context of patients' somatic symptoms...

..The objective was to give a voice to parents in order to develop new understandings of their experience leading to more appropriate clinical decision-making...

..They are particularly at risk for developing substance abuse. School-based support groups have been suggested as a beneficial treatment and prevention strategy...

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..This article reviews an adapted version of an Alzheimer's cafe focusing on eight couples where one partner was newly diagnosed with dementia. It is primarily a reflective account...

..Potential program users include adolescent suicide survivors, social supporters of suicide survivors, mental health professionals and survivor support groups...

..Understanding the processes and factors that contribute to the development/deterioration of PSRs will enable clinicians and C/Ss to assess and promote the development of healthy, supportive PSRs in mental health...

..The articles suggests that there is significant potential for the development of a reciprocal relationship between patients and health professionals framed by mutual learning and advice...

..In order to facilitate cancer patients' adjustment to their illness, efforts need to be made to understand and address their support needs throughout the cancer experience...

..It also seeks to provide a critical platform to evaluate the impact of developing such approaches like, (Alzheimer Café) in contrast to other approaches like, couple therapy, relationship and person centred approaches...

..More research could clarify ways in which health care providers may provide more effective interventions, appropriate care, and ongoing support for those affected with FM...

..Preparation approaches known to be successful for other forms of surgery can be adapted to prepare the child/young person for stoma surgery...

..They also show how nurses can play a critical role in optimizing the power of the story in the patient's journey towards physical and psychological healing...

..The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of group counselling program on quality of life in survivors of myocardial infarction...

..This study adds support for the utility of interventions, such as INSIGHT, that nurture self-emergence among women who have experienced intimate partner violence...

..Qualitative data from attendees showed that identifying with other carers and validating feelings, asking questions of professionals, and providing each other with support and encouragement were valuable outcomes from the group...

..Although the nurses enjoyed the programme and found it helpful, such programmes need to tackle contextual barriers to coping with stress as well as improving the individual coping skills of staff...

..Opportunities for staff development are identified...

..Five main themes emerged from these data. These findings help expand knowledge about caregivers dealing with stroke...

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..The e-mail discussion data presented here highlight the importance of increased awareness of addressing spirituality in nurse-client encounters and designing interventions to support the caregivers...

..Further research is needed in order to highlight individual preferences for different educational approaches, as well as social and cultural factors affecting them...

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..There was a significant positive correlation between participant report of number of special patient deaths during career and impact of sessions on grief...

..To increase the capacity of Indian investigators, research staff, partner NGOs, community leaders and youth self help groups to implement tobacco cessation programs in low resource community settings;(4) To increase the capacity of US ..

..To increase the capacity of Indian investigators, research staff, partner NGOs, community leaders and youth self help groups to implement tobacco cessation programs in low resource community settings; (4) To increase the capacity of ..

..To increase the capacity of Indian investigators, research staff, partner NGOs, community leaders and youth self help groups to implement tobacco cessation programs in low resource community settings; (4) To increase the capacity of ..

..However, it is expected that MIN aftercare will be cost-effective for low problem severity ("good prognosis") patients, whereas IND aftercare will be cost-effective for high problem severity ("poor prognosis") patients. ..

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..4. To elucidate the processes underlying the demonstrated benefits of affiliation with self-help among drug user by testing a conceptual model (Figure 1) building on and integrating previous findings. ..

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..g., routine primary care and prevention services, participation in self help groups, and changes in social networks) in altering the 7-year course of substance use...

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..Two chapters will be randomized to each arm and will each recruit and follow 25 women. Individual adherence and chapter-level implementation variables will be assessed. ..