Don’t assume that ‘if we offer it, they will come’
October 1, 2002 5 minutes read
Good group facilitation/interesting topics key
It sometimes is difficult to know why some support groups flounder and others thrive, yet there are several tactics organizers can take to help ensure that their group will be successful. The first may seem obvious, but it is vital that those who may benefit from the support group learn about the meetings so that they might attend.
Organizers often turn to the local advertising outlets such as the newspaper, and that is a good place to start, says Barb Roseborough, MSN, RN, CCE, education specialist at Saint Vincent Health Center in Erie, PA. "People who are interested in attending or have specific concerns that might prompt them to try a support group have a place to look for that information and that is helpful," she explains.
However, many people who would benefit from a support group might not be motivated to look for a group on their own initiative, so it is important to reach the target population in some other way as well. The Erie Ostomy Support Group reaches new ostomy patients by placing a flyer about the group in their discharge education packet. The flyer describes the support group and lists the dates and times it meets. It also lists the topics to be covered at future meetings.
Many of the support group leaders at Ridgecrest (CA) Regional Hospital place flyers in the waiting room at the hospital as well as the local clinics and physician offices, says Kristin Henden, CHES, education director at the hospital.
A hard sell approach is not necessary. "Simply provide information and invite patients," advises Rita R. Miller, RN, RRT, coordinator of patient education at Indiana University Hospital in Indianapo-lis. However, the appeal of a support group seems to depend upon the individual, she says.
"We see similarities in specific generations of people. For example, baby boomers are by far the most interested group. The newest generation to come of age — I think they are calling them the netsters’ — never want to participate," says Miller. There almost seems to be a support-group personality,’ says Roseborough. Many who attend seem to enjoy the interaction and sharing of information. Yet there are those who attend who are very quiet and seem to just want to listen. They only speak if a skilled facilitator is able to draw them out, she says.
Help people belong
To keep people coming back, groups need to be kept interesting but also all-inclusive. Group leaders must go out of their way to welcome the new participants and perhaps, over time, ask a few of the people who attend regularly to become greeters, says Roseborough.
Creating a social environment by offering coffee, tea, or some sort of refreshment seems to break the ice, she says. But it is important to strike a balance. Most people who attend support groups are not looking for a social club. It is important that groups not be a waste of time. Group leaders who are trained in facilitation and come prepared to help create an interesting discussion are vital to a group’s success, says Roseborough.
"It is always good for a facilitator to have a couple of discussion topics or a newspaper article they have read that will spark interest," she says. Leaders who understand group dynamics will be able to generate discussion that makes the group beneficial to those who participate.
Yet discussion is not always enough. A support group for prostate cancer survivors is the most successful at Ridgecrest Regional Hospital, and many come to hear the guest speaker. "I think they have a very high attendance at their meetings because there is new information, and they aren’t just sitting around talking among themselves," says Henden.
At Indiana University Hospital, the most successful support groups are those for childbirth. "The people who attend these groups are hungry for any and all information. The more specific the information is to an individual’s particular circumstance, the more they like it," says Miller.
At the end of the year, Rose Konsel, RN, BSN, CWOCN, coordinator of the Erie Ostomy Support Group, asks participants what topics they would like covered during the upcoming months and then does her best to find people willing to come speak for free, because there is no money to pay speakers. Last year, the group asked to hear a pharmacist speak about over-the-counter medications that affect the bowel and for someone to address stress management. Representatives from three companies always come once a year to talk about new products.
"In my field, ostomy supplies change every year. So unless people come to the meetings, they don’t really hear about new products. Many attend the meetings to keep current on new supplies and new treatment," says Konsel.
Other factors that keep group attendance between 15 and 25 participants include well-organized and well-run meetings that start and end on time. The monthly meetings are from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings, and people don’t have to do much more than show up. "People want to have minimal involvement. They don’t want to be involved in leadership or have anything that is required of them," says Konsel.
Being allowed to bring their spouses or significant others seems to improve attendance as well, she says. Henden agrees. The prostate cancer survivors are encouraged to bring their wives to the support group meetings at Ridgecrest Regional Hospital, and that seems to be one factor that keeps attendance high.
Sources
For more information about attracting support group participants and keeping attendance high, contact:
- Kristen Henden, CHES, Education Director, Ridgecrest Regional Hospital, Ridgecrest, CA 93555. Telephone: (760) 446-0643. E-mail: [email protected].
- Rose Konsel, RN, BSN, CWOCN, Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse, Saint Vincent Health Center, Erie, PA 16544.
- Rita R. Miller, RN, RRT, Coordinator of Patient Education, Indiana University Hospital, Room 3865, Clarian Health Partners Inc., Indianapolis, IN. Telephone: (317) 278-4281. E-mail: [email protected].
- Barb Roseborough, MSN, RN, CCE, Educational Specialist, Educational Services, Saint Vincent Health Center, Erie, PA 16544. Telephone: (814) 452-5686. E-mail: [email protected].
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