Hive Cancer Support Presentation

Aimee MercerClara Cowan Christopher Murray Chloe Murphy Ellen-Jane O'Brien

Psychology at work presentation

The aim of this project is to propose a support service in which the Hive charity can implement to instil a sense of resilience and hope to cancer patients and their families within a cost of living crisis

"A Haven for Healing, Hope and Connection"

Overview

The impact of the cost of living crisis on cancer patients

How the charity can help instil resilience and hope post covid

What support services the charity can put in place

Our Intentions are to include information on:

What the Hive charity represents

Approach as a group

We identified our goals and objectives

We evenly divided all work amongst ourselves and developed this powerpoint

We researched literature and theories to back our main idea

We researched the organisation and came up with ideas of support services that the charity didnt already provide

To do this we...

Biopsychoscial ModelHealth Belief ModelResilience Theory

We took focus on three factors that we felt are most logical and useful for people to incorporate into their lives, increasing the likelihood of long term maintenace.

EducationalPhysicalMental/Emotional

Background information

Located in Derry City, Causeway Coast and Glens Council areas (portrush etc) and Strabane District.

Hive’s is a cancer support organisation created in 2005, whose goal is to promote cancer support services, to combat isolation, and engage beneficiaries in social, recreational, health and educational programmes to enhance quality of life for men, women and children.

Services they provide:

• Cancer Awareness Information sessions
• Reduce your risk information sessions for men, women and children
• Counselling and well-being initiatives
• Peer support groups
• Male (Pink Panthers) and Female (Pink Ladies) support groups
• Social Events (i.e. Latest Hive Cancer Support Choir)

Aims of Hive:

• To provide a holistic, person-centred approach to support men, women and families affected, both directly and indirectly by cancer.
• To provide services to educate men, women and children on how to prevent and reduce their risk.

Impact of cost of living crisis on cancer patients

83% of cancer patients experience financial impact from their diagnosis, averaging an additional £891 a month on top of their usual expenses.Research has shown that financial stress can have devastating impacts on physical and mental wellbeing, negatively impacting cancer recovery and cancer-specific survival. This is only getting worse with the cost of living crisis.

“I have overwhelming anxiety as all the money worries add up, and on top of this I am so fearful about how our standard of living will affect my cancer recovery” ~ Lara, thyroid cancer patient.“I go to the supermarket around 6pm to buy the reduced bread, I’ll freeze half because I can’t afford to buy it fresh anymore” ~ Yasmin, breast cancer patient

• 22% of patients have been spending more time in bed to stay warm and save money on heating and/or electrical bills.
• 1 in 6 patients have been washing their bedding and clothes less to try keep costs down
• 24% of people with cancer have had to cut costs by buying less food or making fewer hot meals.

(Limb, 2022)

biopsychosocial model

In relation to an individual with a cancer diagnosis we should consider:

The Biopsychosocial model was first conceptualised by George Engel in 1977.

We must look at a combination of biological, psychological and social factors in order to understand an individual's experience of a medical condition.

By looking at the factors which influence an individual's experience, we can plan an intervention to combat any negative factors to help restore resilience and hope.

• Biological factors of their physical health.
• Psychological factors such as stress, negative thoughts, low mood and fear.
• Social factors to assess their social circle.

(Suls et al., 2013).

Health belief model

A person's motivation to undertake a health behavior can be divided into three categories: individual perceptions, modifying factors, and likelihood of action. (McKellar, 2020)

• High risk of disease > Inclined to follow recommended health behaviours
• Perceived benefits of diet adherence > Increased likelihood of sticking to plan
• Perceived barriers of diet adherence > Decreased likelihood of following recommended health behaviours
• Cues to action > changing health behaviours out of pressure/fear/sudden realisation
• Self-efficacy > making a plan and sticking to it toachive a desired goal
• External variables > altering lifestyle and beliefs to prioritise health and wellbeing

Resilience theory

One of our key aims is to instill resilience and hope to those suffering with cancer and their families.

• When faced with adversity, frustration or misfortune, having resilience can help to fight back.
• Resilience theory helps to facilitate the relationship between the use of coping strategies and quality of life. By working with individuals and families affected by cancer to create personal coping strategies in the face of adversity, a greater sense of hope can be achieved.
• Findings assume that resilient cancer patients may report higher quality of life, since they are more likely to express positive emotions, integrate their cancer experience positively, and feel a sense of peace and meaning in their lives (Seiler & Jenewein, 2019).
• Management of emotions can be achieved through resilience, whether that be stress due to the increase in cost of living or fear surrounding the situation in which the affected individuals find themselves in.

The Resilience Theory (Garmezy, 1991) argues that that its not the nature of adversity that is most important, but how we deal with this adversity.

Support service the charity can implement

Our Main Idea is to provide:

A Budgeting Workshop & Weekly Potluck!

We Propose:

• - Hive support individuals potentially spiralling into fear with the cost of living crisis by offering advice on how to shop smartly (i.e. purchasing lower priced items, prioritising food and not snacks and keeping heating and electricity costs low)
• - Hive provide recipes for meals in line with budgeting and healthy meal prep.
• - Hive provide facilities necessary for a Potluck weekly or monthly (spreading and reducing the cost of a meal amongst a group of people, helping cope with the cost of living crisis)

How?

• - Encourage people to take in food items to create a meal that can be shared with others
• - Collaborate with other organisations to offer free food (i.e. Food Bank, Chapel, local businesses)
• - Go Fund Me Page
• - Fundraisers (fun days, coffee mornings etc.)

how our pot-luck idea links to theory

Biopsychosocial ModelThe pot-luck idea can influence patient's experiences by taking into consideration the biological, psychological and social factors

Having a warm and nutritious meal is important for cancer patient's recovery.

The pot-luck provides a good opportunity to bring patients together and encourage social interaction

Good physical health and social relationships promote good mental health

Health Belief Model

• By decreasing the barriers to good nutrition, the pot-luck increases the likelihood of patient's engaging in these positive health behaviours.

• Social interactions can promote socially-derived confidence and self efficacy.

Resilience Theory

• Social interaction and support can improve feelings of hope and make emotions feel more manageable.
• Diet quality and diet diversity has been shown to decrease psychological distress and improve resilience.

Critical Evaluation of pot-luck idea

• Instills resilience and hope for local families and individuals diagnosed with cancer, providing a sense of community.
• Encourages friendships
• Allows people to unite through shared experiences
• Limits feelings of loneliness
• Saves money on groceries especially during the current cost of living crisis
• Spreads the work of food preparation, particularly for those who struggle with limited energy due to their cancer diagnosis and treatments.

Positives

• Requires some on-site cooking/kitchen facilities.
• Allergies and dietary requirements should be considered.
• Transport to/from charity base may be needed.

Limitations

other recommendations

Group Nature Walk

Transport to Appointments

Coffee Evening

Set up a food bank at the charity base

In conclusion

In conclusion, research has shown that the cost of living crisis has had a significant impact on cancer patients within the post covid society.

The charity should also implement the biopsychosocial model and the health belief model to promote understanding of the experiences cancer patients are facing. The resilience theory will further help to educate the charity on how to instill a sense of resilience and hope for cancer patients within the charity to improve overall well-being.

We propose that the charity should provide a budgeting workshop and a weekly potluck to help reduce financial stress, increase socialisation and improve a sense of resilience and hope for the cancer patient.

Thanks for listening!

Any questions?

References

Bonaccio, M., Di Castelnuovo, A., Costanzo, S., Pounis, G., Persichillo, M., Cerletti, C., Donati, M. B., de Gaetano, G., & Iacoviello, L. (2018). Mediterranean-type diet is associated with higher psychological resilience in a general adult population: findings from the Moli-sani study. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 72(1), 154–160.Hive Cancer Support. (2021). Fancy Souper Sunday Live Cookery. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CMj4Ro0hh5Y/ Hive Cancer Support (2023). About Us. https://hivecancersupport.co.uk/about-us/ Hive Cancer Support (2023). Support Groups. https://hivecancersupport.co.uk/support-groups/Kuuppelomäki, M., & Lauri, S. (1998). Cancer patients' reported experiences of suffering. Cancer Nursing, 21(5), 364-369.Limb, M. (2022). Cancer patients’ health is at increased risk from cost of living crisis, charity warns. BMJ : British Medical Journal (Online), 377 doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o1103Ozer, S. (2023), Social support, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and well-being during COVID-19 lockdown: A two-wave study of Danish students. Scand J Psychol. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12952Sharp, L., Carsin, A.-E. and Timmons, A. (2013), Associations between cancer-related financial stress and strain and psychological well-being among individuals living with cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 22: 745-755. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.3055Sharp, L., O’Leary, E., O’Ceilleachair, A., Skally, M., & Hanly, P. (2018). Financial impact of colorectal cancer and its consequences: Associations between cancer-related financial stress and strain and health-related quality of life. Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, 61(1), 27–35. https://doi.org/10.1097/dcr.0000000000000923 Suls, J., Krantz, D. S., & Williams, G. C. (2013). Three strategies for bridging different levels of analysis and embracing the biopsychosocial model. Health Psychology, 32(5), 597–601. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031197

References

Bonaccio, M., Di Castelnuovo, A., Costanzo, S., Pounis, G., Persichillo, M., Cerletti, C., Donati, M. B., de Gaetano, G., & Iacoviello, L. (2018). Mediterranean-type diet is associated with higher psychological resilience in a general adult population: findings from the Moli-sani study. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 72(1), 154–160.Hive Cancer Support. (2021). Fancy Souper Sunday Live Cookery. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CMj4Ro0hh5Y/ Hive Cancer Support (2023). About Us. https://hivecancersupport.co.uk/about-us/ Hive Cancer Support (2023). Support Groups. https://hivecancersupport.co.uk/support-groups/Kuuppelomäki, M., & Lauri, S. (1998). Cancer patients' reported experiences of suffering. Cancer Nursing, 21(5), 364-369.Limb, M. (2022). Cancer patients’ health is at increased risk from cost of living crisis, charity warns. BMJ : British Medical Journal (Online), 377 doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o1103Ozer, S. (2023), Social support, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and well-being during COVID-19 lockdown: A two-wave study of Danish students. Scand J Psychol. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12952Sharp, L., Carsin, A.-E. and Timmons, A. (2013), Associations between cancer-related financial stress and strain and psychological well-being among individuals living with cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 22: 745-755. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.3055Sharp, L., O’Leary, E., O’Ceilleachair, A., Skally, M., & Hanly, P. (2018). Financial impact of colorectal cancer and its consequences: Associations between cancer-related financial stress and strain and health-related quality of life. Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, 61(1), 27–35. https://doi.org/10.1097/dcr.0000000000000923 Suls, J., Krantz, D. S., & Williams, G. C. (2013). Three strategies for bridging different levels of analysis and embracing the biopsychosocial model. Health Psychology, 32(5), 597–601. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031197