Centre de Psycho Oncologie

Project - Receiving support and giving better support (research)

Receiving support and giving better support (research)

Cancer has physical, psychological and social impacts for both patients and those close to them. It appears necessary to develop targeted interventions intended specifically for the dyad formed by the patient and his/her close person.

The objective of this randomized controlled study (DYAD project) is to test the effectiveness of a dyadic psycho-oncological intervention. The intervention is for patients, irrespective of the type of cancer they have, the stage of the disease and type of treatment they are receiving. It is also intended for any close carer, family member or person outside the family. This intervention comprises four dyadic consultations which are free for the participants. Its objective is to strengthen supportive dyadic communication strategies through communication exercises performed in the consultation and based on instructions given by the trainer. The exercises are centred around (i) reciprocal expression of and listening to personal difficulties associated with the cancer and (ii) reciprocal formulation of a request for help in order to cope with these difficulties. The study also comprises self-reported scales and questionnaires relating to emotional state, individual coping, dyadic coping, mutual support, frequency of communication, satisfaction with communication, perceived communication capacities relative to the stresses associated with the illness and the medical-socio-demographic aspects. The study involves two conditions. Under the experimental conditions, the participants benefit from the intervention immediately after their inclusion. Under the control conditions, they benefit from the intervention six weeks after their inclusion (waiting list). The first evaluation time occurs after inclusion for both sets of conditions (T1) and the second evaluation time occurs after the intervention in the case of the experimental conditions and before the intervention in the case of the control conditions (T2).

Under the experimental conditions, an improvement in perceived communication capacities, satisfaction with communication and dyadic coping is expected. Under the control conditions, no change is expected.