A nurse-led intervention for fear of cancer progression in advanced cancer: A pilot feasibility study.
Anne M Reb, Tami Borneman, Denice Economou and 9 others
PMID 33120211WHAT IT FOUND
Nurse-led eight-week sessions were feasible and acceptable for advanced cancer patients, and fear of cancer progression and cancer-related distress scores improved over time.
With no control group, this cannot show the intervention caused improvement.
Key findings
01Of 31 evaluable participants, 21 completed all seven sessions, and the mean attendance was 5.3 sessions.
02At the 8-week assessment compared with baseline, mean fear-of-progression scores decreased by 8 points and cancer-related distress scores decreased by 19.1 points.
03Participants reported the most beneficial components were values clarification, detached mindfulness, and worry postponement.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (31 evaluable participants) and there was no control group. Attrition was higher than predicted: 10 of 31 evaluable participants dropped out, including four before receiving any sessions. Most participants were female and had GYN cancer; 12 males with lung cancer were approached and seven declined. The study was single-group and exploratory; randomised studies are needed to confirm effects. Attention-training home practice was poor: by week five, only five participants continued. The intervention was delivered at one comprehensive cancer centre.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that this nurse-led programme reduces fear of cancer progression. It was a single-group pilot with no control group. Improvement could reflect nurse support or the natural course.