Participants’ Perceptions of Advantages and Drawbacks of “Drop-In” Versus “Closed-Group” Formats Related to Cancer Bereavement Program Delivery

Having opportunities to readily access bereavement support for people affected by the death of a loved one is central to any comprehensive approach to cancer care. Hope & Cope, a community-based cancer support organization in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, offers professional- and volunteer-led bereavement programs in two formats: “drop-in” (open as needed) and “closed-group” (structured). This qualitative study explored contributions and potential drawbacks of these two-program delivery formats as reported by bereaved participants (N = 18). Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted according to groups: Drop-in (n = 7) and closed-group (n = 11). Audio-recorded interviews (lasting between 30 and 60 min) were transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes were revealed: (1) Program structure according to grief timeline, (2) Flexibility in the choice of topics and impact on grief experiences, (3) Grief support dynamics in relation to group composition. Findings indicate that drop-in provided “as-needed” tailored support, whereas closed-groups ensured consistency in attendance. Some drawbacks included high attendance turnover in the drop-in and less relevant topics in the structured closed format. Supportive interventions should continue to be tailored to people’s profiles and preferences, not only for content but also for delivery formats.