e-TC: Development and pilot testing of a web-based intervention to reduce anxiety and depression in survivors of testicular cancer

L E Heiniger; A B Smith; I Olver; P Grimison; B Klein; A Wootten; J-A M Abbott; M A Price; M McJannett; B Tran; M R Stockler; H Gurney; P N Butow

doi:10.1111/ecc.12698

e-TC: Development and pilot testing of a web-based intervention to reduce anxiety and depression in survivors of testicular cancer

Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2017 Nov;26(6). doi: 10.1111/ecc.12698. Epub 2017 May 22.

Authors

L E Heiniger^{1

2

3}, A B Smith^{1

2

3

4}, I Olver^{1

2

5

6}, P Grimison^{1

2

7}, B Klein^{8

9}, A Wootten^{1

2

10

11

12}, J-A M Abbott¹³, M A Price^{1

2

3}, M McJannett^{1

2}, B Tran^{2

10

11}, M R Stockler^{1

2

7

14

15}, H Gurney^{1

2

16

17}, P N Butow^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
² The Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate (ANZUP) Cancer Trials Group, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
³ Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED), School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁴ Centre for Oncology Education and Research Translation (CONCERT), The Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research & University of New South Wales, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Cancer Council Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁶ Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
⁷ Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁸ Centre for Biopsychosocial and eHealth Research and Innovation, Federation University, Ballarat, Vic., Australia.
⁹ National Institute for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
¹⁰ Department of Urology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
¹¹ Department of Medical Oncology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
¹² Epworth Prostate Centre, Epworth, Vic., Australia.
¹³ Faculty of Health, Arts & Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Vic., Australia.
¹⁴ Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia.
¹⁵ NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹⁶ Department of Medical Oncology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
¹⁷ Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 28544085
DOI: 10.1111/ecc.12698

Abstract

e-TC is an online intervention designed to address common psychosocial concerns of testicular cancer survivors. It aims to reduce anxiety, depression and fear of cancer recurrence by providing evidence-based information and psychological intervention. This paper details the development and pilot testing of e-TC. During pilot testing, 25 men (with varying psychological profiles) who had completed treatment for testicular cancer, 6 months to 5 years ago (which had not recurred), used e-TC over a 10-week period and provided quantitative and qualitative feedback on the feasibility and acceptability of the programme. Six men also completed a qualitative interview to provide detailed feedback on their experiences using e-TC. Fourteen men (56%) completed at least 80% of the programme. Participants reported a high level of satisfaction with the programme. Men's limited time was a barrier to programme use and completion, and participants suggested that men with a more recent diagnosis and a higher level of distress may be more likely to engage with the programme. e-TC appears to be a feasible and acceptable online intervention for survivors of testicular cancer. Findings from this study are currently being used to refine e-TC and guide the design of a larger efficacy study.

Keywords: anxiety; depression; fear of cancer recurrence; online intervention; survivors; testicular cancer.

MeSH terms

Adult
Anxiety / psychology
Anxiety / therapy*
Cancer Survivors / psychology*
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
Depression / psychology
Depression / therapy*
Feasibility Studies
Humans
Internet
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
Pilot Projects
Stress, Psychological / psychology
Stress, Psychological / therapy*
Testicular Neoplasms / psychology*
Therapy, Computer-Assisted / methods