ABSTRACT
Weallspendourlivesingroupsofoneformoranother,forexampleour familyandfriendshipnetworks.Learningtosocialiseisaverybasicpartof humandevelopment.Smallchildrenaresenttoplaygroupsandnurseriesto encouragethemtosocialiseandshareandthemajorityofusspendour educationandworkinglivesingroupsofsomesort.Veryillorbereaved adultsandchildrenoftenfeelexcludedfromthegroupstowhichtheyhad previouslybelonged.Theyfearthattalkingabouttheirfeelingsmaycause embarrassment,andthereactionwhentheydooftenconfirmstheirsuspicions.Therelevanceofgroupworkinpalliativecareisclear.Groupscan helppromotepeopletofeellesslonelyandisolated;theyofferopportunities formutualsupportandproblemsolving,asafeplacetoexpressfeelingsand ideas,feedbackonbehaviourandimprovedself-esteemthroughtheopportunitytogivesupportaswellastoreceiveit(Yalom,1995).Bottomley's reviewontheefficacyofcancersupportgroupsconcludesthatthey'offer thepotentialforcost-effectivehelptocancerpatients'(Bottomley,1997).A randomisedcontrolledtrialbySpiegeletal.(1989)evensuggestedthat participationinsupportgroupsmightprolongthesurvivalofindividuals withcancer.
