Exploring the role of participative processes in breast cancer psychosocial intervention: a systematic review
Authors: Lekeka Motlalepule 
Published: December 2024

Participation in the psychosocial intervention was beneficial to the psychological health and survival of breast cancer survivors by focusing on the intrapsychic dimension of their needs. While fulfilment of the intrapsychic needs yielded positive results, improved the survivors’ quality of life by adding more years into their lives, what more could be expected if the interpersonal needs of the survivors were included in the psychosocial interventions? The interpersonal dimension pays attention to the relationships and support network available to the survivors from their spouses, extended family members, and communities. It takes into consideration the contextual factors that play a role in participants’ lived experiences and can transcend the individual survivor’s response to the illness to include those of significant others.
Aim: The review aimed to explore whether the inclusion of the interpersonal dimension of participative processes with the intrapsychic dimension in the psychosocial intervention among breast cancer survivors can play a complementary role. It explored the role of participants' stories, rotational support, and the shared collective construction of meaning in enhancing the quality of life among the survivors and their significant others.
Method: A systematic review was conducted to offer an overview of the research and map out the available literature on this topic. The data was screened using the PRISMA-ScR flow diagram by the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Psych INFO, Google, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Proquest were searched to identify relevant studies, incorporating published articles in peer-reviewed journals and unpublished articles (doctoral dissertations) from 1996 to 2024. Search keywords included: collaborative participation, participants’ voice, shared experiences, and dialogue, story-telling, rotational support from significant others.
41 studies were selected as they met the inclusion criteria for the final review. These incorporated both the intrapsychic and interpersonal participative processes in the cancer support groups as well as community-based support networks. The selected studies utilized qualitative research design with tools such as interviews, focus groups, and case studies, and the Indigenous community-based approaches. Reflexive thematic analysis was chosen to uncover and report themes and patterns within the collected dataset.
Results: Six major themes were identified depicting the role of participative processes: 1) acknowledgment of the influence of the cultural and social context of women’s lived experiences; 2) enhancement of spirituality among survivors; 3) emergence of mutual co-construction of new meaning; 4) development of new insights,empowerment of the vision, and redefinition of new goals; 5) development of altruistic values and compassion; 6) reconfiguration of the facilitator role into a dual role during the group process.
Conclusion: Results showed that participative processes that addressed both intrapsychic and interpersonal needs were beneficial to breast cancer survivors. The intrapsychic needs were fulfilled through engaging in co-construction of meaning, redefining life’s purpose, and developing new goals for the survivors. The interpersonal needs were met through embracing survivors’ stories related to their immediate experiences and support from the involvement of community members, and the impact of survivors’ participation in spiritual rituals enhanced the quality of life among the women.