Discussion of the results
The obtained results show that even in the case of the relatively short intervention
we observe a measurable direct effect in the form of: the increase of the acceptance of the illness, the growth of the generalised self-efficacy, the increase of hope for success,
the increase of the ability to find solutions, the improvement of therapeutic cooperation
and the favourable modification of beliefs related to the illness. A significant increase
of the mentioned aspects of the cognitive representation of the illness in the studied
sample ranged from 4.5 to 12.5%, and the experimental effect size estimated on the basis
of the ɛ2 coefficient was in the range of the average effect (0.06 < ɛ2 ≤ 0.14), indicating
the presence of the clear relationship between the independent variable and the studied
dependent variables. The obtained results do not allow us, however, to determine to what
extend the effect is connected with specific elements of intervention (specific content
of subsequent meetings), and to what extend with the non-specific healing factors
(group factors, contact with professionals devoting a considerable amount of time).
At the same time it was observed that the stability of the described effect over
time, not supported by additional structured interactions, unfortunately gradually decreases.
Although it was not shown that in 18 months after the end of psychoeducation
the level of the mentioned aspects of the cognitive representation of the illness was
still significantly higher than before the start, it was also not proven that the results
of this measurement were significantly lower than the results obtained just after the end
of psychoeducation. It is possible that in order to maintain their growth over time,
it is advisable to use a more elaborate intervention, like, e.g., the 21 stage Barcelona
program, or the implementation of additional “revising” meetings, strengthening and
perpetuating the obtained result.