Lessons to Be Learned From 25 Years of Research Investigating Psychosocial Interventions for Cancer Patients

Abstract

Conducting rigorous psychosocial intervention research with cancer patients has many challenges including encouraging them to join studies, asking them to engage in interventions or be part of control conditions, and to provide data over follow-up assessments. Here, we highlight valuable insights regarding such challenges provided by investigators studying psychosocial interventions for cancer patients. Handling these skillfully has important implications for the internal and external validity of this research and the ethical treatment of participants. Challenges noted in research reports included in a systematic review of 25 years of research (comprising 488 unique projects) investigating interventions designed to enhance cancer patients' quality of life were compiled. Among the difficulties mentioned was the fact that patients may not feel the need for psychosocial interventions and thus may not be interested in joining an intervention study. Patients who do feel the need for such interventions may be deterred from joining trials by the prospect of being randomized to a non-preferred group; if they do join a trial, participants may be disappointed, drop out, or seek compensatory additional assistance if they are assigned to a control group. Apart from randomization, other aspects of research may be off-putting to participants or potential participants, such as the language of consent forms or the intrusiveness of questions being asked. Potential remedies, such as research awareness interventions, monetary incentives, partnering with cancer support organizations, and using designs that take preferences into account merit consideration and further research inquiry.

Psychische Belastung und psychosoziale Unterstützung älterer Krebspatienten

“…Verschiedene Studien belegen, dass ein Teilgruppe der Krebspatienten, die zunächst Interesse an psychosozialen bzw. psychotherapeutischen Unterstützungsangeboten signalisieren, diese Angebote nicht in Anspruch nimmt [20,28,31,38], wobei die Inanspruchnahmebereitschaft bei älteren Krebspatienten tendenziell niedriger ausgeprägt ist als bei jüngeren [27,38]. Um den Zugang und die Inanspruchnahme psychosozialer Unterstützungsangebote zu verbessern, ist es deshalb notwendig, die Unterstützungsbedürfnisse älterer Krebspatienten genau zu kennen.…”

Design and rationale for NOURISH-T: A randomized control trial targeting parents of overweight children off cancer treatment

“…Although these patterns might be unavoidable during treatment, they are associated with health complications when continued post-treatment [12]. Healthy lifestyle changes, including increasing PA and improving dietary habits, might prevent future chronic illness, reduce the risk for recurrent disease and improve quality of life QOL in PCS [5,6,11,14,[21][22][23][24][25][26].…”

“…Despite the association between cancer treatment and future obesity, few interventions have addressed the negative impact of cancer therapies on the eating and PA behaviors of PCS [23,27]. A few small-scale studies have addressed the impact of unhealthy behaviors [28][29][30][31][32], but most do not utilize evidence-informed treatments.…”

Santeria as an Informal Psychosocial Support Among Latinas Living with Cancer

“…Evidence suggests that most oncology patients require assistance and encouragement in seeking and utilizing mental health services for their psychosocial needs (Moyer et al, 2009). The need for this assistance is exacerbated for Latinas whose access and use of mental health services is further limited and influenced by financial, linguistic, institutional, and cultural factors (Galvan et al, 2009).…”

“…In addition, "limited English proficiency, part-time or no employment, limited insurance coverage, lack of transportation, and unfamiliarity with the health care system may elevate their risk of distress" (Napoles-Springer et al, 2009, p. 268). Moreover, Moyer Knapp-Oliver, Sohl, Schnieder, & Floyd (2009) suggest that "most cancer patients do not make use of psychosocial resources naturalistically" (p. 346) and instead require assistance and encouragement in seeking and utilizing mental health services for the psychosocial sequelae. For Latinas, the increase in psychosocial sequelae combined with a general proclivity of neglecting to seek formal psychosocial treatment results in a pressing need for culturally congruent psycosocial care that resonates with Latinas.…”