TY - JOUR
T1 - Web-based self-help intervention for partners of cancer patients based on acceptance and commitment therapy and self-compassion training: a randomized controlled trial with automated versus personal feedback
T2 - a randomized controlled trial with automated versus personal feedback
AU - Köhle, Nadine
AU - Drossaert, Constance H. C.
AU - ten Klooster, Peter M.
AU - Schreurs, Karlein M. G.
AU - Hagedoorn, Mariët
AU - van Uden-Kraan, Cornelia F.
AU - Verdonck-de Leeuw, Irma M.
AU - Bohlmeijer, Ernst T.
N1 - Funding Information: Parts of this study were supported by a grant from the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF)/Alpe d’HuZes; contract grant number: 5248. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/9/1
Y1 - 2021/9/1
N2 - Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of two versions (personal or automated feedback) of a psychological Web-based self-help intervention targeting partners of cancer patients. The intervention was based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and self-compassion training. Participants’ adherence and their satisfaction were also studied. Methods: Two hundred three partners of patients with heterogeneous entities of cancer were randomized into three conditions: personal feedback (PF) (n = 67), automated feedback (AF) (n = 70), or waiting list (WL) control (n = 66). Participants completed measures at baseline (T0) and post-intervention (T1; 3 months after baseline) to assess psychological distress (HADS; primary outcome), positive mental health, caregiver strain, general health (secondary outcomes), posttraumatic growth, resilience, self-compassion, psychological flexibility, sense of mastery, and relational communication style (process measures). Participants in the two experimental conditions also completed these measures at follow-up (T2; 6 months after baseline). Results: There was no significant difference in change in psychological distress, positive mental health, caregiver strain and general health from T0 to T1 for either of the experimental conditions compared with the WL-condition. However, when compared to a WL-condition, the PF-condition was effective in increasing psychological flexibility (effect size d = 0.49) and resilience (d = 0.12) and decreasing overprotection (d = 0.25), and the AF-condition was effective in reducing overprotection (d = 0.36) and improving protective buffering (d = 0.36). At follow-up, the PF-condition was more effective than the AF-condition for improving mental health (d = 0.36), psychological flexibility (d = 0.60), mastery (d = 0.48), and protective buffering (d = 0.24). Participants positively appreciated the intervention and 69% participants were adherent. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a Web-based intervention based on ACT and self-compassion training with automated or personal feedback does not seem to improve psychological distress; however, it may have the potential to support partners of cancer patients to cope with the difficult situation they are facing. The condition with personal feedback seemed to be more beneficial.
AB - Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of two versions (personal or automated feedback) of a psychological Web-based self-help intervention targeting partners of cancer patients. The intervention was based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and self-compassion training. Participants’ adherence and their satisfaction were also studied. Methods: Two hundred three partners of patients with heterogeneous entities of cancer were randomized into three conditions: personal feedback (PF) (n = 67), automated feedback (AF) (n = 70), or waiting list (WL) control (n = 66). Participants completed measures at baseline (T0) and post-intervention (T1; 3 months after baseline) to assess psychological distress (HADS; primary outcome), positive mental health, caregiver strain, general health (secondary outcomes), posttraumatic growth, resilience, self-compassion, psychological flexibility, sense of mastery, and relational communication style (process measures). Participants in the two experimental conditions also completed these measures at follow-up (T2; 6 months after baseline). Results: There was no significant difference in change in psychological distress, positive mental health, caregiver strain and general health from T0 to T1 for either of the experimental conditions compared with the WL-condition. However, when compared to a WL-condition, the PF-condition was effective in increasing psychological flexibility (effect size d = 0.49) and resilience (d = 0.12) and decreasing overprotection (d = 0.25), and the AF-condition was effective in reducing overprotection (d = 0.36) and improving protective buffering (d = 0.36). At follow-up, the PF-condition was more effective than the AF-condition for improving mental health (d = 0.36), psychological flexibility (d = 0.60), mastery (d = 0.48), and protective buffering (d = 0.24). Participants positively appreciated the intervention and 69% participants were adherent. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a Web-based intervention based on ACT and self-compassion training with automated or personal feedback does not seem to improve psychological distress; however, it may have the potential to support partners of cancer patients to cope with the difficult situation they are facing. The condition with personal feedback seemed to be more beneficial.
KW - Acceptance and commitment therapy
KW - Cancer
KW - Partners
KW - RCT
KW - Self-compassion
KW - Web-based
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85101208712&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33608762
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06051-w
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06051-w
M3 - Article
C2 - 33608762
SN - 0941-4355
VL - 29
SP - 5115
EP - 5125
JO - Supportive Care in Cancer
JF - Supportive Care in Cancer
IS - 9
ER -
