Impact of psychological counselling service at Penny Brohn UK

Durrant, Jo; French, Helen; Naidoo, Marian; Churchward, Sarah; Griffiths, Michelle; Seers, Helen

Abstract

Background: For people with cancer, research has shown counselling may be beneficial for wellbeing, anxiety, depression and helping with the sexual side-effects of cancer. Penny Brohn UK (PBUK) is a cancer charity that supports people to live well with cancer. It offers face-to-face or telephone counselling for anyone aged over 18 with a cancer diagnosis and their close supporters.

Method: PBUK’s counselling service was evaluated using the validated person-centred outcome measure MYCaW (Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing), measuring the impact of cancer support services on the severity of people’s cancer related concerns and wellbeing. Concerns were rated at the start of counselling and re-rated at the end of the last session. Qualitative data was captured on the MYCaW tool regarding other things going on in people’s life affecting health and what was important about the service they received. Data was analysed using the accompanying qualitative coding framework.

Data was analysed for all clients who had attended counselling appointments in January- December 2017 and provided full pre- post-counselling MYCaW data.

Results: 40 clients provided pre-post MYCaW data and attended an average of 6 sessions (range 1 to 18). Psychological and emotional concerns were top rated for concern 1 and 2 (81% and 78% respectively). Prior to counselling, concerns were rated fairly severely (5.1/6 for concern 1 and 2; 6 being the worst). After counselling concerns showed a statistically significant improvement (2.2/6 and 2/6 for concern 1 and 2 respectively, p<.000 for both). 90% of clients showed a clinically significant improvement in their concerns. Qualitative data indicated that counselling at PBUK gave clients the opportunity to talk, provided time for themselves and made them feel supported and understood.

Conclusion: Counselling at PBUK led to a statistically significant improvement in cancer-related concerns and wellbeing. A larger sample is needed to explore this further.

Disclosure: Funded by Penny Brohn UK

Corresponding author: Helen Seers

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: 2018 NCRI Cancer Conference of National Cancer Research Institute
• Online Publication Date: Nov 8, 2018
• Publication Date: Nov 8, 2018
• Deposit Date: May 28, 2024
• Print ISSN: 0007-0920
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-1827
• Publisher: Springer Nature [academic journals on nature.com]
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 119
• Pages: 1-49
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/12012733
• Publisher URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-018-0299-z