Evaluation of a psychological intervention for fear of cancer recurrence; A longitudinal randomised controlled trial

ABSTRACT: Interventions: The key goals of the intervention are to: a) teach strategies for controlling worry and excessive threat monitoring ; b) modify underlying unhelpful beliefs about worry; c) develop appropriate monitoring and screening behaviours; d) educate about follow-up care and empirically-supported behavioural change (e.g. weight loss, exercise etc) to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence; e) address existential changes brought about by a cancer diagnosis; f) promote goal-setting. The intervention is delivered in 5 x 60-90 minute, individual face-to-face sessions by a trained psychologist or psychiatrist. Participants attend one session per fortnight over a period of 10 weeks. An individual approach is required with this group of highly anxious people to ensure effective skill-based training. In our cross-sectional study amongst young women with breast cancer higher FCR was significantly associated with current use of support groups in multivariate analysis. As the direction of the causality between FCR and support group use remains unclear, we believe it is most prudent to demonstrate proof of concept in an individually delivered intervention prior to testing the intervention in a group setting. Each session is accompanied by home-based practice of skills learned in session and home reading to consolidate skill acquisition. Primary outcome(s): Fear of Cancer Recurrence will be assessed using the 42-item Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI), the most comprehensive multi-dimensional scale of FCR available, and suitable for patients with mixed cancer diagnoses. The primary outcome variables will be specified as the (i) total FCRI score, and (ii) Severity Subscale of the FCRI.[At completion of treatment and 3 and 6 months later] Study Design: Purpose: Educational / counselling / training; Allocation: Randomised controlled trial; Masking: Blinded (masking used);Assignment: Parallel;Type of endpoint: Efficacy

DISEASE(S): Fear Of Cancer Recurrence,Cancer-specific Distress,Mental Health-anxiety,Cancer-bowel-back Passage (rectum) Or Large Bowel (colon),Cancer-breast

PROVIDER: 2458116 | ecrin-mdr-crc |

REPOSITORIES: ECRIN MDR