Managing fatigue after cancer treatment: development of RESTORE, a web‐based resource to support self‐management

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to co-create an evidence-based and theoretically informed web-based intervention (RESTORE) designed to enhance self-efficacy to live with cancer-related fatigue (CRF) following primary cancer treatment.Methods: A nine-step process informed the development of the intervention: (1) review of empirical literature; (2) review of existing patient resources; (3) establish theoretical framework; (4) establish design team with expertise in web-based interventions, CRF and people affected by cancer; (5) develop prototype intervention; (6) user testing phase 1; (7) refinement of prototype; (8) user testing phase 2; and (9) develop final intervention.Results: Key stakeholders made a critical contribution at every step of intervention development, and user testing, which involved an iterative process and resulted in the final intervention. The RESTORE intervention has five sessions; sessions 1 and 2 include an introduction to CRF and goal setting. Sessions 3-5 can be tailored to user preference and are designed to cover areas of life where CRF may have an impact: home and work life, personal relationships and emotional adjustment.Conclusions: It is feasible to systematically 'co-create' an evidence-based and theory-driven web-based self-management intervention to support cancer survivors living with the consequences of cancer and its treatment. This is the first account of the development of a web-based intervention to support self-efficacy to manage CRF. An exploratory trial to test the feasibility and acceptability of RESTORE is now warranted.

Helping Patients to Help Themselves after Breast Cancer Treatment

“…This in turn influences the perception of fatigue [26,28]. The intervention had five sessions, where sessions 1 and 2 included an introduction to fatigue and goal setting.…”

“…Sessions 3e5 were designed to cover areas of life where fatigue might have an effect and could be tailored to user preference. These life domains include home, work and emotional adjustment [28].…”

A usability study to test the effectiveness, efficiency and simplicity of a newly developed Internet-based Exercise-focused Health App for Lung cancer survivors (iEXHALE): Protocol paper

“…Usability in eHealth interventions is associated with both usage and effectiveness, 38,39 and usability studies have been used to develop and refine eHealth and mHealth interventions targeting a range of health behaviours, including the self-management of symptoms following treatment for cancer. 32,40 There is a range of methods available to test the usability of digital healthcare interventions including interviews with users, think-aloud methods and participant observation. 36,41 Peer review and publication of research protocols has been identified as an important early stage step in reducing publication bias and improving the quality of research.…”

Cancer-Related Fatigue in Post-Treatment Cancer Survivors: Theory-Based Development of a Web-Based Intervention

“…Current evidence supports the use of nonpharmacological treatment strategies for reducing CrF [3]. Web-based interventions have been shown to be an effective mode of delivery and can facilitate self-management of long-term conditions [4,5], including CrF [6-9]. Chou, Liu, Post, and Hesse [10] encourage using the Internet to better serve survivors’ needs as it is increasingly being used as a resource by cancer survivors.…”

“…Such interventions may, therefore, increase access for users by providing 24-hour access to health care interventions and having the potential to reach huge numbers of people [11]. Use of such tools may enhance empowerment and effective self-management of fatigue [6,8]. …”