Objective: Ovarian cancer poses challenges for middle-aged and older patients, impacting physical and self-conceptual aspects. A research gap exists on the impact of online support groups (SGs) on recovery identity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for these patients. To assess the feasibility and efficacy of an online SG in influencing recovery identity and HRQOL in middle-aged and older ovarian cancer patients.
Method: A 4-week randomized controlled trial, followed by a 3-month evaluation, was conducted, employing a mobile online SG and an offline SG both grounded in the social identity model of identity change. Recovery identity, HRQOL, and participant engagement were utilized to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of interventions.
Results: From June to October 2023, 68 middle-aged and older ovarian cancer patients (Mage 55.67) were enrolled. The online SG exhibited higher engagement in education and health record assessment, affirming its feasibility. Both interventions significantly improved recovery identity and HRQOL, with the offline SG proving more effective from T1 to T2, but online SG facilitated more sustained improvements over time. Correlation analysis revealed a predictive relationship from recovery identity to HRQOL (p < .05).
Conclusions: The study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of online SGs in improving recovery identity and HRQOL for middle-aged and older ovarian cancer patients. These findings offer evidence-based insights for utilizing online SGs to influence recovery identity and enhance care quality. Future research should explore the long-term effects and optimize the impact of online SG interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06145295.