proFamilies: a psycho-educational multi-family group intervention for cancer patients and their families

Abstract

This paper describes a psycho-educational multi-family discussion group intervention for cancer patients and their families (proFamilies) which was implemented and evaluated at the IPOFG - CROC (Portuguese Cancer Institute, Regional Centre of Coimbra). It is a brief and highly structured programme which involves educational and support components and is based on multi-family discussion groups, including patients and non-patient family members. Five groups were established, involving 19 families, and a total of 57 people. The paper focuses on the practical aspects of the intervention, its development and its evaluation. Our results suggest that the programme responds to the patients' and their families' needs and that participation in proFamilies prevents an increase in the patient's level of psycho-social maladjustment, promotes an adequate level of family cohesion and diminishes the perceived stress of patients and family members.