Exploring Patient-Related Contextual Factors and Personal Reflections About the Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) Intervention for Adults With Advanced Cancer in Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan Southern Alberta: A Mixed Methods Study.

Background: The evidence-based Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) psychotherapeutic intervention was designed to address the complex needs of those with advanced cancer. Ample evidence supports the efficacy of CALM therapy; less is known about the patient-specific factors that influence initiation and continuation of CALM sessions.

Aims: To gain understanding of patient-specific factors and referral routes that influence initiation and continuation of CALM.

Methods: An Interpretive Description framework and concurrent triangulation mixed-methods design was used to analyse baseline patient-specific variables for prediction of engagement (number of sessions) in CALM following recruitment from cancer centres, palliative care services, and community cancer care organisations across Southern Alberta, Canada. Patient input (n = 10) occurred through semi-structured interviews exploring experiences with advanced cancer, CALM referral and engagement.

Results: Among consented individuals (n = 69), those directly referred by healthcare providers (HCPs) and self-referred (total n = 32), engaged in more CALM sessions (M = 4.97, SD = 3.51) than those referred indirectly (M = 3.19, SD = 2.26, p < 0.05), particularly younger participants (< 65 years) and those with longer life expectancy (> 10 months). Participants chose CALM based on experiences of distress, wanting to talk openly, and expecting benefit.

Conclusions: Greater patient engagement in the CALM intervention following HCPs' direct referrals may be based on trust in the HCP-patient relationship, and accurately prognosticating sufficient physical well-being for participation and benefit. Future health systems research may evaluate systematic programing with offering CALM referrals following an advanced cancer diagnosis.