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E-Patient Counseling Trial (E-PACO): Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
Development and pilot testing of a psychoeducational intervention for oral cancer patients
Mark R Katz1, Jonathan C Irish, Gerald M Devins
1Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Psychiatry, University Health Network--Toronto General Hospital/Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. mark.katz@uhn.on.ca
Objective:
Oral cancer elicits considerable distress in both the pre and post-treatment periods. This paper details the development, validation and pilot-testing of a psychoeducational intervention for oral cancer patients.
Method:
An educational booklet covering information about oral cancer and its treatment and effective coping strategies was developed by a multi-disciplinary team. It was evaluated by patient focus groups and content/educational experts, delivered to subjects in pre and post-operative presentations by a health educator, and pilot-tested in a randomized controlled trial versus standard care.
Results:
Pilot data from 19 subjects (10 psychoeducation, nine standard care) indicates that the intervention is feasible and highly acceptable. At follow-up the intervention group showed a gain in knowledge, less body image disturbance, lower anxiety and a trend toward higher wellbeing.
Conclusion:
This program, which is currently being evaluated in a larger RCT with extended follow-up, should prove useful in reducing the psychosocial burden of oral cancer and its treatment.
