CONTRIBUTION OF PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT GROUP IN IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG FEMALE BREAST CANCER PATIENTS IN FARAJA, NAIROBI COUNTY-KENYA

Abstract

Breast Cancer is one of the devastating types of cancer common and most prevalent in women accounting for 23% of all cancers of women globally, Kenya reporting high incidences. After diagnosis, the quality of life (QOL) of women is highly affected, due to the emergence of physical, psychological, spiritual and social effects leading to changes in attitude and expectations towards life. Due to insufficient cancer facilities in Kenya and expenses of the available treatment modalities, majority of the patients can’t afford treatment leading to undignified deaths. Psychosocial support group is affordable and has been found to improve QOL among breast cancer patients besides traditional medical procedures. In Kenya, some cancer centers have support groups with patients of different types of cancers, yet there is no research done. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate the contribution of psychosocial support group in improving the QOL, among female breast cancer patients in Faraja Support Trust, Nairobi County that offers free psychosocial support group specifically for breast cancer patients. Analytical cross-sectional study design where both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection was used. The study used a validated Quality of Life-Breast Cancer specific questionnaire for quantitative data collection and focus Group Discussion (FGD) for qualitative data. 70 female breast cancer patients participated in the study. Descriptive analysis was done for socio-demographic data and Paired T-test was performed to evaluate the Statistical difference in the variable means for those in the support group and nonsupport for their quality of life. The study results revealed that psychosocial support group was statistical significant in all the four domains of quality of life: with physical domain having a significant mean of 3.0 (95%CI=2.8-3.3) for those in support group contrary to 2.4 (95%CI=2.1-2.7) in non-support group (p=0.0053); Psychological well-being having a mean of 2.2 (95% CI = 2.1 – 2.3) for support group compared to a mean of 1.5 (95% CI = 2.1 – 2.3) for non-support group (p=0.0001); where social domain was 2.2 (95% CI = 2.1 – 2.3) for support group contrary to mean of 1.7 (95% CI = 1.5 – 2.0) for non-support group (p=0.0004) and spiritual domain with 4.2 (95%CI=4.1-4.3) in support group contrary to non-support group mean of 4.0 (95%CI= 3.8-4.1) with a p=0.05. The study therefore concluded that, psychosocial support group improved quality of life among female breast cancer patients and recommended that support groups may be integrated in the existing oncology service in all cancer centers across the country.