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It evaluates how cultural, social, and economic factors shape treatment choices and whether support groups reduce obstacles to modern care. Using community-based case study methods with semi-structured interviews and focus groups, the study identifies stigma, financial constraints, reliance on alternative medicine, and limited infrastructure as key barriers. Support groups improve emotional well-being, awareness, reduce stigma, and support informed, community-driven advocacy, strengthening long-term survivorship in low-resource settings.",{"@graph":69,"@context":126},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":35,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exploring-the-impact-of-breast-cancer-support-groups-on-survivorship-and-treatment-decision-making-in-eastern-ethiopia-a-qualitative-study/372326/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/exploring-the-impact-of-breast-cancer-support-groups-on-survivorship-and-treatment-decision-making-in-eastern-ethiopia-a-qualitative-study/372326.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Jake","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-31","2026-09-23",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":34},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118,122],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What is the study’s main purpose?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"To explore how breast cancer support groups affect survivorship and treatment decision-making among women in Harar, Ethiopia, including cultural, social, and economic influences on those decisions.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How was the research conducted?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"The study used a community-based case study with semi-structured, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions involving women attending BC support groups and key informants such as healthcare providers, caregivers, and spiritual leaders.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What barriers to timely breast cancer treatment did the study identify?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Key barriers included cultural stigma, financial constraints, reliance on alternative medicine, and limited healthcare infrastructure.",{"name":123,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":124},"What impact did the support groups have on participants?",{"text":125,"@type":113},"Participants reported improved emotional and psychological well-being, greater awareness, reduced stigma, and increased community advocacy that influenced treatment decision-making.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":128,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":130,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":132,"site_id":62},372326,1790475712,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":135},{"doc_id":132,"user_id":136,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":137,"doc_module":4,"category_id":34,"category_name":35,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":138,"file_id":139,"file_url":140,"file_type":141,"file_size":142,"view_count":34,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":143,"language":144,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":145,"faqs":146,"seo_title":147,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":148,"read_time":149},962084928904,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d","Supportive Care in Cancer (2025) 33:419  \n[https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-025-09475-w](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-025-09475-w)  \nExploring the impact of breast cancer support groups on survivorship and treatment decision‑making in eastern Ethiopia: a qualitative study  \nNahom G. Belete1 · Meera Bhakta2 · Tara Wilfong3 · Mahlet Shewangizaw1 · Edilawit Abebaw Abera1 · Yehenaw Tenaw1 · Michael Shawel1 · Habtamu Seife1 · Biruk Habtamu1 · Nahom Wondwossen1 · Elizabeth A. Wood4  \nReceived: 29 January 2025 / Accepted: 16 April 2025 / Published online: 26 April 2025 © The Author(s) 2025, corrected publication 2025  \nAbstract  \nPurpose This study explores the psychosocial impact of breast cancer (BC) support groups on survivorship and treatment decision-making among women in Harar, Ethiopia. It examines the influence of cultural, social, and economic factors on treatment decisions and assesses the effectiveness of support groups in addressing these challenges.  \nMethods A community-based case study used semi-structured, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Participants included women attending BC support groups and key informants, including healthcare providers, caregivers, and spiritual leaders. Data were collected at the Hiwot Fana Cancer Treatment Center and were analyzed thematically using an inductive approach to identify key themes.  \nResults The study highlighted significant barriers to timely BC treatment, including cultural stigma, financial constraints, reliance on alternative medicine, and limited healthcare infrastructure. Support groups were pivotal in improving emotional and psychological well-being, fostering a sense of community, and influencing treatment decision-making. Participants reported increased awareness, reduced stigma, and enhanced community advocacy.  \nConclusions BC support groups in Harar address critical gaps in cancer care by providing psychosocial support and mitigating barriers to treatment. These groups also serve as platforms for community education and advocacy, promoting early detection and modern treatment practices.  \nImplications for cancer survivors Support groups empower BC survivors by improving emotional resilience, facilitating informed treatment decisions, and fostering a sense of belonging. They also help reduce stigma and build supportive community networks essential for long-term survivorship in low-resource settings. Expanding access to such groups could significantly enhance cancer care outcomes in Ethiopia and similar contexts.  \nKeywords Support groups · Survivorship · Breast cancer · Ethiopia · Qualitative  \n* Elizabeth A. Wood [ewood4@nd.edu](ewood4@nd.edu)  \n1 Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, Harar, Ethiopia  \n2 College of Science, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA  \n3 School of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia  \n4 Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA  \nIntroduction  \nCancer is one of the leading causes of death globally, with an estimated 10 million deaths in 2020 [1] . In Africa, both the incidence and mortality rates of cancer are escalating, with 847,000 new cases and 591,000 deaths reported in 2012 [2] . The United Nations estimates that Africa’s population will grow by 60% between 2010 and 2030, with a 90% increase in individuals aged 60 and older, the age group most susceptible to cancer [2] . Breast cancer (BC) continues to be the second leading cause of death among women worldwide, with rising incidence rates, particularly in developing countries where most cases are diagnosed at advanced stages [3] . BC poses a significant threat globally, particularly impacting women and  \nserving as a public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) [4] . Data quality and availability on BC mortality and incidence from low-and middle-income countries in the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) project are generally poor [1] . This issue is exac","cbCaiqlX8z27hwGm","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiqlX8z27hwGm","pdf",536223,13,"English","# Abstract\n## Purpose\n## Methods\n## Results\n## Conclusions\n## Implications","[{\"question\":\"What is the study’s main purpose?\",\"answer\":\"To explore how breast cancer support groups affect survivorship and treatment decision-making among women in Harar, Ethiopia, including cultural, social, and economic influences on those decisions.\"},{\"question\":\"How was the research conducted?\",\"answer\":\"The study used a community-based case study with semi-structured, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions involving women attending BC support groups and key informants such as healthcare providers, caregivers, and spiritual leaders.\"},{\"question\":\"What barriers to timely breast cancer treatment did the study identify?\",\"answer\":\"Key barriers included cultural stigma, financial constraints, reliance on alternative medicine, and limited healthcare infrastructure.\"},{\"question\":\"What impact did the support groups have on participants?\",\"answer\":\"Participants reported improved emotional and psychological well-being, greater awareness, reduced stigma, and increased community advocacy that influenced treatment decision-making.\"}]","Exploring the impact of breast cancer support groups on survivorship and treatment decision-making in eastern Ethiopia: a qualitative study | PDF",1790194250,33]