Problem-focussed interactive telephone therapy for cancer patients: a phase II feasibility trial

Area of Science:

• Psychological Medicine
• Oncology
• Telehealth

Background:

• Cancer patients often experience high psychological distress.
• There is a need for accessible psychological interventions tailored to cancer patient needs.
• Telephone-delivered therapies offer a potential solution for overcoming access barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of Problem-Focussed Interactive Telephone Therapy (PFIT-T) for cancer patients with high psychological needs.
• To assess improvements in anxiety, depression, cancer-related concerns, coping, and quality of life.
• To determine the feasibility of PFIT-T in a clinical setting.

Main Methods:

• A non-randomized, within-group prospective design was employed.
• Participants included screen-identified cases and those referred by oncology clinicians.
• Outcome measures included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale, Checklist of Cancer Concerns, Cancer Coping Questionnaire, and EQ-5D.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in anxiety (p=0.002), depression (p=0.003), helplessness/hopelessness (p=0.036), cancer concerns (p=0.005), and quality of life (p=0.048).
• 81% of participants were clinical cases at baseline, with 32% no longer meeting criteria post-therapy.
• Improvements in coping were consistent with the therapy's approach.

Conclusions:

• A minority of eligible patients participated, but those who did showed significant improvements.
• Telephone-delivered psychological therapy is a feasible and effective intervention for cancer patients with high psychological needs.
• Findings inform the implementation of distress screening and psychological therapy in oncology settings.