Objective: The Worries About Recurrence or Progression Scale (WARPS) was recently validated in four common chronic illnesses other than cancer, after a rigorous development process based on the COSMIN criteria. Available measures of fear of progression or fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) have been criticised for not meeting all COSMIN criteria. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the psychometric properties of the WARPS in a cancer sample to assess its applicability to measure FCR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: This umbrella review aimed to summarise and synthesize the evidence on the outcomes reported and used to assess the value and or efficacy of geriatric assessments (GAs) for older adults with cancer.
Methods: Six electronic databases, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases, were searched to identify systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses that described the value or outcomes of GAs for older adults with cancer.
Results: Twenty-six systematic reviews were included, of which six included a meta-analysis of the data.
Background: Family or friend carers of people with cancer report high levels of depression, anxiety, caregiving strain, and unmet needs. Limited strategies for identification and management of distress have been established among cancer carers. This paper describes the protocol of two linked studies: Study 1a, a distress screening and stepped care pathway feasibility study and Study 1b, a hybrid implementation-effectiveness Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) to assess the benefit of a comprehensive, carer-centred online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) program for carers with anxiety and depression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Blended therapy (BT) combines digital with face-to-face psychological interventions. BT may improve access to treatment, therapy uptake, and adherence. However, research is scarce on the structure of BT models.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Little is known about dentists' preparedness in managing oral side effects in patients undergoing cancer therapy (CTx). The purpose of this systematic review is to identify barriers and facilitators of dentists in managing oral health of cancer patients (CPs).
Methods: The review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was Prospero registered (CRD42022333055).
Background: Carers play an important role in supporting patients diagnosed with high-grade glioma (HGG). However, this experience is frequently distressing and many carers require support.
Objectives: To describe unmet needs of highly distressed carers of people with HGG and recommendations and referrals made by a nurse to support them within the Care-IS trial.
Research indicates that fear of progression (FoP) may be a transdiagnostic construct underlying anxiety in people with chronic health conditions. Theories propose that the interpretation of illness-related symptoms (such as pain) might be an important mechanism driving the development of FoP. However, FoP has rarely been studied in diabetes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The number of cancer survivors living with and beyond cancer treatment is rising globally. It is fundamental to understand the extent and type of psychosocial care services offered worldwide. We evaluated models of cancer survivorship care, psychosocial care practices in the post-treatment survivorship phase, and barriers/facilitators to delivery of psychosocial care services, including in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: We aimed to define levels of unmet supportive care needs in people with primary brain tumor and to reach expert consensus on feasibility of addressing patients' needs in clinical practice.
Methods: We conducted secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of people diagnosed with high-grade glioma (n = 116) who completed the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Short Form during adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. Participants were allocated to 1 of 3 categories: no need ("no need" for help on all items), low need ("low need" for help on at least 1 item, but no "moderate" or "high" need), or moderate/high need (at least 1 "moderate" or "high" need indicated).
Background: Implementation strategies are crucial to facilitate implementation success. To prepare and support implementation of a clinical pathway for screening, assessment and management of anxiety and depression in cancer patients (the ADAPT CP), six broad categories of implementation strategies; (1) Awareness campaigns, (2) Champions, (3) Education, (4) Academic Detailing and Support, (5) Reporting, (6) Technological Support, were developed. The aim of this paper is to describe the fidelity and acceptability of six categories of implementation strategies and any subsequent changes/adaptations made to those strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Fear of cancer recurring or progressing (FCR) is a concern reported by people living with cancer and caregivers alike. Whilst advances in survivor FCR have been made, less is known about caregiver FCR. As a result, measurement of caregiver FCR has relied on instruments developed for survivor populations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with cancer experience physical, cognitive, and psychosocial effects from cancer treatment that can negatively affect their ability to remain engaged in education or work through cancer treatment and in the long term. Disengagement from education or work can have lasting implications for AYAs' financial independence, psychosocial well-being, and quality of life. Australian AYAs with cancer lack access to adequate specialist support for their education and work needs and report a preference for web-based support that they can access from anywhere, in their own time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPsychooncology
January 2024
Aim: Although there is growing research exploring survivor fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), little is known about caregiver FCR. To date, examination of caregiver FCR has largely been conducted through the lens of survivor conceptualisations, limiting the development of caregiver-specific models, measures, and interventions. This study aimed to explore experiences of FCR among caregivers of people with ovarian cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Worry about recurrence or progression is a common concern among people with chronic physical illnesses. Although there are options to measure the fear of cancer recurrence and other illness-specific measures, there is only one transdiagnostic measure of fear of progression, which does not assess the fear of recurrence or relapse.
Design: A multi-phase study outlining the development and validation of a novel transdiagnostic measure of fear of recurrence or progression, the Worries About Recurrence and Progression Scale (WARPS).
Objective: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is highly prevalent, however there is no formal training for clinicians to address FCR. A novel brief clinician intervention to help patients manage FCR (Clinician Intervention to Reduce Fear of Recurrence (CIFeR)) was shown to be feasible, acceptable, and reduced FCR in breast cancer patients in a pilot study. We now aim to explore the barriers and facilitators of implementing CIFeR within routine oncology practice in Australia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To synthesize current evidence on the association between anticipatory anxiety, defined as apprehension-specific negative affect that may be experienced when exposed to potential threat or uncertainty, and cancer screening to better inform strategies to maximize participation rates.
Methods: Searches related to cancer screening and anxiety were conducted in seven electronic databases (APA PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL), with potentially eligible papers screened in Covidence. Data extraction was conducted independently by multiple authors.
Background: People living with high-grade glioma (HGG) have diverse and complex needs. Screening aims to detect patients with level of unmet need requiring triaging and further assessment. However, most existing measures of unmet need are not suitable for screening in this population due to their length.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Organisational readiness is recognised as a key factor impacting the successful translation of research findings into practice. Within psycho-oncology, measuring organisational readiness and understanding factors impacting organisational readiness is crucial as it is often challenging to implement evidence-based findings into routine cancer care. In this quantitative study, we examined the level of organisational readiness of cancer services preparing to implement a clinical pathway for the screening, assessment, and management of anxiety and depression in adult cancer patients (the ADAPT CP) within a cluster randomised controlled trial and sought to identify staff- and service-level factors associated with organisational readiness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: People of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds face disparities in cancer care. This scoping review aims to identify the breadth of international literature focused on cancer survivorship programs/interventions specific to CALD populations, and barriers and facilitators to program participation.
Methods: Scoping review included studies focused on interventions for CALD cancer survivors after curative-intent treatment.
Background: As COVID-19 spread across the globe, cancer services were required to rapidly pivot to minimise risks without compromising outcomes for patients or staff. The aim of this study was to document changes to oncology services as a result of COVID-19 from the perspectives of both providers and receivers of care during the initial phase of the pandemic.
Methods: Participants were recruited between June and December 2020 through an email invitation via professional or consumer organisations, two hospital-based oncology services and snowballing.
Objective: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is reported by both cancer survivors and caregivers however less is known about caregiver FCR. This study aimed to (a) conduct a meta-analysis to compare survivor and caregiver FCR levels; (b) examine the relationship between caregiver FCR and depression, and anxiety; (c) evaluate psychometric properties of caregiver FCR measures.
Methods: CINAHL, Embase, PsychINFO and PubMed were searched for quantitative research examining caregiver FCR.
Background: Optimal strategies to facilitate implementation of evidence-based clinical pathways are unclear. We evaluated two implementation strategies (Core versus Enhanced) to facilitate implementation of a clinical pathway for the management of anxiety and depression in cancer patients (the ADAPT CP).
Methods: Twelve cancer services in NSW Australia were cluster randomised, stratified by service size, to the Core versus Enhanced implementation strategy.
Objective: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is one of the most common unmet needs for cancer patients and caregivers. Yet little is known about the potentially unique nature of caregiver FCR. Our research aimed to address this gap by qualitatively exploring the features and impact of caregiver FCR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) affects 50-70% of cancer survivors with 30% reporting an unmet need for help with managing FCR. Patients indicate desire to discuss FCR with clinicians, however clinicians indicate discomfort with managing FCR and no formal educational interventions on how to discuss FCR or worry exists for oncology clinicians. Our team developed a novel clinician-driven brief education intervention to help patients manage FCR (the Clinician Intervention to Reduce Fear of Recurrence (CIFeR) intervention).
View Article and Find Full Text PDF