Effects of mutual dyad support on quality of life in women with breast cancer.

This study examined the effects of a mutual dyadic support intervention between survivors and women newly diagnosed with breast cancer on the quality of life and interpersonal relationships of the participants. This matched-pairs, baseline-postintervention study included 31 survivors and 31 newly diagnosed women with stage I or II breast cancer. The women met in mutually supportive, self-directed dyads at least twice a week for 8 weeks.

Recruiting vulnerable populations for research: revisiting the ethical issues.

The successful recruitment of participants is essential to the research process. To increase the rate of subject participation, investigators have to rely on help from health care providers who often serve as gatekeepers to potential research study subjects. These well-meaning professionals may limit subject participation in a study involving vulnerable populations under the guise of protecting these individuals from harm.