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Acceptance and commitment therapy for adults with advanced cancer (CanACT): study protocol for a feasibility
Joseph Low1, Marc Serfaty2, Sarah Davis3
1Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, 6th Floor, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF, UK. joseph.low@ucl.ac.uk.
Trials
|February 12, 2016
Summary
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may help advanced cancer patients manage psychological distress by accepting difficult experiences. This study tested ACT feasibility in a randomized controlled trial, informing future research.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Psychology
- Palliative Care
Background:
- Advanced cancer patients often experience psychological distress, complicated by progressive illness and limited solutions.
- Conventional treatments may be insufficient for complex, unsolvable problems in advanced cancer.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) promotes acceptance of difficult experiences, aiding individuals with intractable issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for advanced cancer patients.
- To establish parameters for a larger, adequately powered RCT.
- To explore the acceptability and potential effectiveness of ACT in this population.
Main Methods:
- A feasibility RCT involving 54 advanced cancer participants randomly assigned to ACT or a talking control.
- Intervention consisted of up to eight 1-hour sessions of ACT.
- Outcomes included functioning (FACT-G), acceptance (AAQ), distress (K10), physical function (timed walk, sit-to-stand), and quality of life (EQ-5D, ICECAP-SC).
Main Results:
- Feasibility data on recruitment, retention, and participant experience were collected.
- The study assessed the utility of various outcome measures for a larger trial.
- Qualitative data explored participants' experiences with the trial and ACT intervention.
Conclusions:
- Findings will inform necessary adaptations for a full-scale RCT.
- Data will guide the planning of a sufficiently powered trial to assess ACT's impact on function.
- The study provides essential feasibility data for future research in advanced cancer care.
