Evaluating an interactive acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) workshop delivered to trained therapists working with cancer patients in the United Kingdom: a mixed methods approach

Abstract

Background SURECAN (SUrvivors’ Rehabilitation Evaluation after CANcer) is a multi-phase study developing and evaluating an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention integrated with exercise and work when highly valued (thus we called the intervention ACT+), for people who have completed treatment for cancer but who have low quality of life. We developed a training programme for therapists working in different psychological services to be delivered over 2–3 days. Our aim was to evaluate the extent to which the training could improve therapists’ knowledge and confidence to deliver ACT+ to cancer patients in a trial setting. Methods Three interactive workshops were delivered to 29 therapists from three clinical settings in London and in Sheffield. A mixed-methods approach was used. Questionnaires were designed to assess knowledge and confidence in using ACT+ with people who have low quality of life after cancer treatment. They were self-administered immediately prior to and after each workshop. Open text-based questions were used to elicit feedback about the workshops alongside a satisfaction scale. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of therapists (n = 12) to explore their views about the training more deeply, and how it might be optimised. Results Quantitative analysis showed that knowledge of ACT, as well as confidence in using the ACT+ intervention in this setting increased significantly after training (28.6 and 33.5% increase in the median score respectively). Qualitative analysis indicated that most therapists were satisfied with the content and structure of the programme, valued the rich resources provided and enjoyed the practice-based approach. Potential barriers/facilitators to participation in the trial and to the successful implementation of ACT+ were identified. For some therapists, delivering a manualised intervention, as well as supporting exercise- and work-related goals as non-specialists was seen as challenging. At the same time, therapists valued the opportunity to be involved in research, whilst training in a new therapy model. Conclusions Training can effectively improve the knowledge and confidence of therapists from different clinical backgrounds to deliver a modified ACT intervention to cancer patients in a trial setting.

“Alive Day is the Day”: A Qualitative Study of Experiences of Learned Helplessness in Maintenance Haemodialysis Patients

“…These negative attitudes, in turn, exacerbate their current helplessness and weaken their motivation to use social and psychological resources to help them cope with the difficulties they face. 24 Acceptance-centred counselling modalities, such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), 59 play important roles in helping individuals adjust to MHD and the accompanying life changes, improve their negative attitudes, and increase their self-identity.…”

A meta-ethnography investigating relational influences on mental health and cancer-related health care interventions for racially minoritised people in the UK

“…Due to the large number of studies identified, we restricted the scope to UK studies from 2010 onwards. Restricting papers to the UK ensured that the findings better related to the NHS context, where the main SURECAN trial was conducted [ 6 ]. Cancer survival continued to improve across the UK (and other high income countries) between 1995 and 2014, although between country differences have persisted [ 107 ].…”

“…Nevertheless, it is clear that better ways of conceptualising racially minoritised health care are needed. We began this meta-ethnography with an interest in the social and cultural influences on cancer-related psychological interventions to inform our work on developing and evaluating an intervention for people living with and beyond cancer experiencing psychological distress [ 6 ]. The process of conducting this meta-ethnographic review led to the elaboration of the concept of ‘animated by (frequently hidden) affective relationality’ in the final synthesis, tying all the themes together.…”

“…Our meta-synthesis informed the SURECAN research trial of a psychological intervention for those living with and beyond cancer. SURECAN develped a psychological intervention based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to improve quality of life (QoL), with added options for exercise and work support (ACT+) [ 6 ]. Previous qualitative meta-syntheses of patients’ views about life after cancer and treatments to improve QoL focused on survivorship, exercise and return to work [ 22 – 24 ].…”

Qualitative study of experience of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT+) amongst Survivors' Rehabilitation Evaluation after Cancer (SURECAN) trial participants and therapists: A protocol.

“…Therapists attend an ACT+ training workshop delivered over two to three days and receive regular supervision during the trial from an experienced cognitive behavioural therapist with extensive training in ACT. We have reported in more depth on the development and evaluation of the training (Moschopoulou et al, 2022). Additional information about the intervention will be available in the protocol for the main quantitative trial looking at the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the ACT+ intervention, to be published in the public domain…”