A short term education intervention but not peer discussion improved vitality and pain in women with breast cancer.

Intervention Women were allocated to education (n=79), peer discussion (n=74), education plus peer discussion (n=82), or control (n=77), approximately 3 months after diagnosis. Each group comprised 7 small groups of 8–12 women. Education consisted of 8 weekly 45 minute meetings in which an expert lectured on a topic (eg, nutrition), followed by a brief question and answer period. The goal of the education intervention was to provide expert information and enhance women’s control over the illness experience. Peer discussion involved 8 weekly 60 minute meetings in which a master’s level oncology social worker and nurse facilitated a group discussion on feelings and self disclosure. Group members determined the content of the discussion. The combined intervention consisted of weekly meetings that began with the educational lecture and were followed by a discussion group that lasted approximately 1 hour.