The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Patients with Gastrointestinal...

Patients with gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) experience multiple psychological and physical complications during cancer treatment. A major psychological concern is the fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), which can negatively affect mental health and quality of life. Therefore, implementing effective interventions to manage FCR is essential.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an Acceptance and Commitment-Based Therapy Program (ACBTP) in reducing FCR among patients with GIC with a stoma.

In this single-blinded randomized clinical trial, 40 patients with GIC and a stoma were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups. The intervention group received eight ACBTP sessions, while the control group received routine care. Data were collected using the FCR-7 questionnaire before and one month after the intervention.

There were no statistically significant baseline differences between the two groups regarding gender, age, education, marital status, or stoma duration. Post-intervention, the intervention group had a significantly lower mean FCR score than the control group (p < 0.001).

The ACBTP was effective in improving psychological adaptation and significantly reducing FCR in patients with GIC and a stoma. This approach could be considered as part of supportive care in cancer management.