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Mijn partner heeft kanker: meningen en suggesties van partners ten aanzien van ontwikkelde teksten en oefeningen van een online-zelfhulp-interventie

Bauer, N. (2013) Mijn partner heeft kanker: meningen en suggesties van partners ten aanzien van ontwikkelde teksten en oefeningen van een online-zelfhulp-interventie.

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Abstract:Background: Currently there are about 430.000 people diagnosed with cancer living in the Netherlands. The challenges that partners face after a cancer diagnosis, can lead to severe psychological afflictions. The mental health of the partners of the patients can be improved with adequate psychological interventions that take the wishes and demands of the target group into account. Current interventions are limited and generally more focused on the patient instead of the caretaking partner. The University of Twente is therefore planning to develop an online intervention together with KWF Cancer Fund. In order to make the intervention fit as good as possible to the needs of the partners, it is developed based on user-centred-design, a method that puts the needs of the target group in focus from the get go. The purpose of this initiative is to help the family of cancer patients to cope with the consequences of cancer. The intervention already offers texts and exercises based on recent research, expert knowledge and a prior qualitative study. The research aims to measure whether these texts and exercises satisfy the needs of the target group. Method: The research included semi structured interviews with three partners of cancer patients and one professional. The patients were in different stages of the disease. The first patient's prognosis was hopeful, the second one was cured and the third had succumbed. The professional participating in the research was experienced in giving psychological aid. The participants were given three weeks to read the book 'My partner has cancer' and rate the exercises and texts with help of the plus-min-method and an assessment form. Afterwards a semi-structured interview was conducted. The transcriptions of these interviews were analysed later on. Results: The sentiments towards the intervention were generally positive. The content of the intervention was considered valuable and evoked recognition of the respondents. Also the length of the intervention was perceived as good. The themes that take on the intervention and the accompanying exercises were deemed appropriate and helpful. The respondents did, however wonder whether the intervention was targeted for the partners of all SES. There was some doubt here. In general two types of suggestions were given. The first one included suggestions to improve the existing content, whereas the second one brought new idea's to the table. The most important suggestion in the category of improving the content was adding age categories. Components that should be added according to the respondents were subjects relating to finances, information about the medical world, dealing with children, the juridical side and sexuality. Conclusion: This study shows that the online intervention "My partner has cancer" seems to succeed in lining up with the needs of the high educated, middle aged partners. The study also shows that the intervention can create recognition for the partners of people suffering from cancer. There is uncertainty about the effectiveness in the elderly, low educated or immigrants demographic in the Netherlands. This could be tested in a follow up research.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/63182
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