Randomized trial of therapeutic group by teleconference: African American women with breast cancer.

Background: The effects of a therapeutic group by teleconference for African American women with breast cancer have not been documented, although the benefits of therapeutic groups for European women are well established. African American women with breast cancer may experience social disconnection, a sense of being cut off from partners, family, and friends because of side effects of treatment and fatalistic beliefs about cancer. A therapeutic group by teleconference may counteract these problems and improve social connection.

Successful subject recruitment for a prostate cancer behavioral intervention trial.

Background: Inadequate participant recruitment, which may lead to unrepresentative study samples that threaten a study's validity, is often a major challenge in the conduct of research studies.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to describe the development and implementation of a recruitment plan and evaluate the different recruitment strategies for a prostate cancer behavioral intervention trial.

Methods: Our recruitment plan was based on a framework (The Heiney-Adams Recruitment Model) that we developed, which combines relationship building and social marketing.

Efficacy of therapeutic group by telephone for women with breast cancer.

A pilot study was conducted to test the efficacy of a therapeutic group by telephone conference call for women with breast cancer. Sixty-six women with stage I or stage II breast cancer consented to participate in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to a usual psychosocial care or intervention group, using a permuted block method.

Preparing children to be bone marrow donors.

Purpose/objectives: To review literature regarding children as bone marrow donors and describe the evaluation of an individualized intervention to support children who will be donors for parents or siblings.

Data Source: Research studies, abstracts, and clinical reports describing interventions or psychosocial issues related to child donors, parent interviews, and clinical experiences.

Data Synthesis: Child marrow donors and caregivers benefit from interventions that illuminate the process and provide psychosocial support.