Psychoeducational programme (PEP) to persons recently treated for colorectal and their next-of-kin

The psychoeducational programme (PEP) was offered to persons recently treated for colorectal cancer and their next-of-kin. The overall aim of the intervention was to test if a psychoeducational program had an effect on mood, anxiety, depression and quality of life on patients and next-of-kin. The programme consisted of seven meetings with 60 minute lectures followed (Colorectal surgeon, almoner, dietist, Physiotherapist, RNA qualified in music therapy and a RNA showing the OR) by a 60-minute discussion and reflection on the topic of the day and was given during the evening, once a week over a seven-week period. Two registered nurses introduced the lecturers and were present during the entire programme. Both patients and next-of-kin attended the lectures together, but during the subsequent discussion they sat in different rooms with one of the registered nurses guiding and facilitating the discussion in each group, which included a maximum of eight persons. The setting for the programme was the outpatient ward at the surgical clinic. To detect other possible effects of the intervention a descriptive qualitative interview study was also conducted. The next-of-kin?s experiences of life were described as seen through their experiences and knowledge captured by the PEP. The project also includes another qualitative interview study with the aim of describe the experience of life the first year after surgery from the perspective of persons treated for colorectal cancer and their partners.