Stepped-care cognitive behaviour therapy program for treating cancer-related fatigue: protocol for a feasibility study
Abstract Background Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a commonly experienced and often debilitating side effect of cancer treatment that can persist for years after treatment completion. The benefits of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for CRF are well established; however, these interventions are ty...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Pilot and Feasibility Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-022-01062-8 |
| _version_ | 1811258806855794688 |
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| author | Lauren K. Williams Maria Ftanou Elizabeth J. Pearson |
| author_facet | Lauren K. Williams Maria Ftanou Elizabeth J. Pearson |
| author_sort | Lauren K. Williams |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a commonly experienced and often debilitating side effect of cancer treatment that can persist for years after treatment completion. The benefits of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for CRF are well established; however, these interventions are typically not included in standard clinical care. Traditional CBT is resource-intensive, limiting implementation in hospital settings. Stepped-care approaches can offer benefits to more people, using the same personnel as traditional models. Method/design This is a single-arm feasibility study. Fifty people with a cancer diagnosis, at least 12 weeks post-treatment or on long-term maintenance treatment, with persistent CRF that is affecting daily activities, will enrol in a stepped-care CBT program. Intervention: The stepped-care program involves two steps. Step 1: All participants begin with a 5-week supported self-management CBT progam targeting fatigue. Step 2: If fatigue remains severe or has changed less than the minimal clinically important difference on the fatigue measure after step 1, participants will be offered four sessions of therapist-directed group CBT. Measures: Participants will complete questionnaires at baseline and 6 and 10 weeks. The primary outcome is feasibility of the REFRESH program. The implementation evaluation comprises acceptability, satisfaction, appropriateness, and feasibility of the study intervention, along with administrative data including cost, processes, procedures and implementation. Secondary outcomes are changes in fatigue, quality of life and self-efficacy. Conclusion The REFRESH program will be the first stepped-care CBT intervention for persistent CRF in Australia. Assessing feasibility of REFRESH is an important first step to establishing future implementation and efficacy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:20:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c03697e60ad94340a80e3a8fa4b77e4b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-5784 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:20:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pilot and Feasibility Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-c03697e60ad94340a80e3a8fa4b77e4b2022-12-22T03:21:27ZengBMCPilot and Feasibility Studies2055-57842022-05-01811810.1186/s40814-022-01062-8Stepped-care cognitive behaviour therapy program for treating cancer-related fatigue: protocol for a feasibility studyLauren K. Williams0Maria Ftanou1Elizabeth J. Pearson2Department of Health Services Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer CentreDepartment of Psychology, Peter MacCallum Cancer CentreDepartment of Health Services Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer CentreAbstract Background Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a commonly experienced and often debilitating side effect of cancer treatment that can persist for years after treatment completion. The benefits of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for CRF are well established; however, these interventions are typically not included in standard clinical care. Traditional CBT is resource-intensive, limiting implementation in hospital settings. Stepped-care approaches can offer benefits to more people, using the same personnel as traditional models. Method/design This is a single-arm feasibility study. Fifty people with a cancer diagnosis, at least 12 weeks post-treatment or on long-term maintenance treatment, with persistent CRF that is affecting daily activities, will enrol in a stepped-care CBT program. Intervention: The stepped-care program involves two steps. Step 1: All participants begin with a 5-week supported self-management CBT progam targeting fatigue. Step 2: If fatigue remains severe or has changed less than the minimal clinically important difference on the fatigue measure after step 1, participants will be offered four sessions of therapist-directed group CBT. Measures: Participants will complete questionnaires at baseline and 6 and 10 weeks. The primary outcome is feasibility of the REFRESH program. The implementation evaluation comprises acceptability, satisfaction, appropriateness, and feasibility of the study intervention, along with administrative data including cost, processes, procedures and implementation. Secondary outcomes are changes in fatigue, quality of life and self-efficacy. Conclusion The REFRESH program will be the first stepped-care CBT intervention for persistent CRF in Australia. Assessing feasibility of REFRESH is an important first step to establishing future implementation and efficacy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-022-01062-8CancerFatigueCBTPsychologicalSurvivorStepped-care |
| spellingShingle | Lauren K. Williams Maria Ftanou Elizabeth J. Pearson Stepped-care cognitive behaviour therapy program for treating cancer-related fatigue: protocol for a feasibility study Pilot and Feasibility Studies Cancer Fatigue CBT Psychological Survivor Stepped-care |
| title | Stepped-care cognitive behaviour therapy program for treating cancer-related fatigue: protocol for a feasibility study |
| title_full | Stepped-care cognitive behaviour therapy program for treating cancer-related fatigue: protocol for a feasibility study |
| title_fullStr | Stepped-care cognitive behaviour therapy program for treating cancer-related fatigue: protocol for a feasibility study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stepped-care cognitive behaviour therapy program for treating cancer-related fatigue: protocol for a feasibility study |
| title_short | Stepped-care cognitive behaviour therapy program for treating cancer-related fatigue: protocol for a feasibility study |
| title_sort | stepped care cognitive behaviour therapy program for treating cancer related fatigue protocol for a feasibility study |
| topic | Cancer Fatigue CBT Psychological Survivor Stepped-care |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-022-01062-8 |
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