A research agenda for fear of cancer recurrence: A Delphi study conducted in Australia

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is common, debilitating, and costly to the health system. While there has been a rising trajectory in FCR-related research, there remain many unanswered questions. A research agenda is required to clarify priorities and ensure that research dollars and effort are expended wisely. This study aimed to elicit research topics and priorities from clinical and academic experts in FCR.

Phase 1 consisted of elicitation by survey of prioritised FCR research topics from 20 members of the Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG) FCR special interest group, followed by a focus group discussion with 28 clinicians, researchers, and cancer survivors, at which survey results were presented and further reflection was encouraged. This resulted in 28 research topics that were then subjected to a Delphi process to establish consensus (phase 2).

Thirty-one participants completed round 1 of the Delphi process and 23 round 2, after which satisfactory consensus was reached. Five broad areas of research were identified as priorities. In rank order, they were (1) intervention models; (2) definition, predictors, and outcomes of FCR; (3) detection and screening; (4) training for health professionals; and (5) reaching specific populations.

It is hoped that the current findings will guide FCR researchers towards clinically relevant, significant research that will move the field forward. Experts nominated intervention research as the top priority, specifically exploring optimal formats of delivery including stepped care and blended models incorporating online or phone elements to increase accessibility.