Effectiveness of psycho-educational interventions with telecommunication technologies on emotional distress and quality of life of adult cancer patients: a systematic review

Abstract

The efficacy of interventions using distance approaches in the cancer setting is still not well-established. Further research should be conducted through well-designed studies with more interactive features that minimize the lack of face-to-face interaction. Implications for rehabilitation Rehabilitation professionals working in the field of oncology should invest in the development of psycho-educational interventions responding the patients' educational needs and promoting their stress control skills. Programs using telecommunications technologies may reduce disparities in service delivery within this setting, minimizing geographic and socio-economic barriers to engagement in the interventions. With the current technological development, it is possible to perform more interactive interventions that stimulate therapist-patient interactions. However, available protocols in this field still employ basic resources (e.g., websites, e-mail, and videos). Young adult cancer patients are exposed to additional requirements related to fertility and parenthood. New intervention approaches should consider their informational needs.

Randomized Trial of a Tailored Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Mobile Application for Anxiety in Patients with Incurable Cancer

“…Potential explanations for our findings include the possibility that the health education program was an active control that effectively improved outcomes; participants naturally regressed to the mean across the study measures; or participant expectancy effects led to the observed improvements. Although web‐based psycho‐educational interventions can have positive effects on distress in patients with cancer , concerns about regression to the mean or expectancy effects are mitigated. Participants were on average more than 7 months postdiagnosis of advanced cancer, well past the usual period of adjustment, and controlling for time since diagnosis did not affect the findings.…”

Meta-Analysis of the Effects of the Educational and Counseling Interventions on Mental Adjustment and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer

“…On the contrary, some other reviews reported that the psychoeducational interventions significantly effect on the QoL. Bartolo et al (2019) reported that the psychoeducational interventions improved the QoL, but the effect size was small (Bartolo et al, 2019). As well as, Raingruber (2011) reported that the review appeared positive results on the QoL and improved the psychological disturbance (Raingruber, 2011).…”

eHealth for Stigma Reduction Efforts Designed to Improve Engagement in Care for People Living with HIV

“…Given the benefit that SMS messaging and online chat rooms have for anonymous social support [27], different eHealth modalities have potential for targeting each of the mechanisms described above (education, contact, counseling and coping skills) to reduce HIV-related stigma for PLWH. In the general population, both computer- and web-based intervention packages have demonstrated effectiveness when used to provide psychoeducation and cognitive behavioral therapies to reduce emotional distress [28, 29]. In the HIV treatment and prevention field, the majority of published eHealth behavioral studies have used these technologies to promote ART adherence [30].…”