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Evaluating the efficacy of a self-guided Web-based CBT intervention for reducing cancer-distress: a randomised controlled trial

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Abstract

Purpose

This study evaluated the efficacy of a self-guided Web-based cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) intervention compared to an attention control in improving cancer-related distress, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and maladaptive coping, among people recently diagnosed with cancer.

Methods

Sixty individuals with cancer diagnosed in the previous 6 months and receiving treatment with curative intent were randomised to receive either the 6-week intervention Cancer Coping Online (CCO: n = 30) or the 6-week Web-based attention control (n = 30). Outcome measures, including cancer distress (the Posttraumatic Stress Scale—Self-Report), general distress (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale), quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30), and coping (mini-MAC), were administered at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3 and 6 months post-intervention.

Results

Significant main effects for time were found for cancer distress, global QOL, physical function, role function, social function, and anxious preoccupation. Post hoc between-group comparisons showed CCO participants had statistically significantly higher physical functioning compared to controls at 3 months of follow-up (d = −0.52, p = 0.02). Furthermore, compared to controls, post hoc comparisons found moderate between-group effect sizes favouring CCO post-intervention for cancer distress (d = 0.43) and anxious preoccupation (d = 0.38), and at 6 months of follow-up for global QOL (d = −0.43).

Conclusions

These results provide preliminary support for the potential efficacy of a self-guided Web-based CBT programme in improving aspects of HRQOL, cancer-related distress, and anxious preoccupation after cancer diagnosis. This paper provides justification for, and will help inform the development of, subsequent larger multi-site studies.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to the men and women who participated in this pilot study and for the helpful feedback; we hope you found the programme beneficial. Thanks are due to Ms. Melissa Atkinson for your assistance with study coordination; to the Cancer Care Coordinator, Ms. Caroline Richards; and to Breast Care Nurses Jan. Rice, Merralyn Briskham, and Rachel Buder for your assistance with patient recruitment from Flinders Medical Centre. The Cancer Council of South Australia supported and assisted with advertising this study.

The Cancer Coping Online website was funded by the South Australian Department of Health Australian Better Health Initiative Cancer Coordination Project Grant. Dr. Lisa Beatty’s postdoctoral research fellowship was co-funded by the South Australian Department of Health, the Cancer Council South Australia, and Flinders University. She is currently funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant #1042942.

Compliance with ethical standards

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Flinders University, GPO Box. 2100, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia

    Lisa Beatty & Tracey Wade

  2. Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    Lisa Beatty & Bogda Koczwara

Authors
  1. Lisa Beatty
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  2. Bogda Koczwara
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  3. Tracey Wade
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Correspondence to Lisa Beatty.

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Beatty, L., Koczwara, B. & Wade, T. Evaluating the efficacy of a self-guided Web-based CBT intervention for reducing cancer-distress: a randomised controlled trial. Support Care Cancer 24, 1043–1051 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2867-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2867-6

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