Current approaches to managing fear of cancer recurrence; a descriptive survey of psychosocial and clinical health professionals

Abstract

Fear of cancer recurrence is commonly identified in oncology settings and a common focus of discussion in follow-up care. However, patients with high levels of FCR are not routinely referred to psychosocial staff, and barriers to referral to psychosocial care should be investigated. The diversity of approaches reported by psychosocial professionals suggests lack of consensus regarding management of FCR, indicating that the development effective, theoretical-based intervention and evidence-based intervention for FCR is a matter of priority.

Self-reported psychosocial needs and health-related quality of life of colorectal cancer survivors

“…In contrast, health care professionals, particularly nurses, reported encountering high levels of fear of recurrence among their patients (Thewes et al, 2014). The strategies used by health professionals to help patients manage fear of recurrence appear to vary though data is lacking on this aspect of cancer care and the effectiveness of different support strategies.…”

“…The strategies used by health professionals to help patients manage fear of recurrence appear to vary though data is lacking on this aspect of cancer care and the effectiveness of different support strategies. Indeed, there would appear to be a need to conduct further research and provide training in order to help nurses and other professionals address patients' concerns regarding anxietyrecurrence (Thewes et al, 2014). Survivors with a range of different cancers report fear of recurrence prevalence estimates ranging from 7% to 32% (Beesley et al, 2007, Hodgkinson et al, 2007, Molassiotis et al, 2010.…”

A systematic review of the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in chronic disease and long-term conditions

“…The range of long-term conditions and applications demonstrates the flexibility of the ACT model and also reflects the extent to which practitioners (Thewes et al, 2014) and clinical researchers (Angiola & Bowen, 2013;Graham et al, 2015;Hadlandsmyth et al, 2013;Moitra et al, 2011) working with long-term conditions have embraced ACT. Indeed, in agreement with other studies (Ost, 2014), the rate of ACT intervention studies appears to be increasing, with almost half the included studies published in 2014 (the year preceding the systematic search).…”

“…Therefore, ACT's focus on encouraging (experiential) acceptance in the service of meaningful behaviour may be particularly efficacious for disease self-management or treatment adherence (see Table 1). This strong face validity of ACT in the context of long-term conditions appears to be translating into clinical practice -there is emerging evidence that ACT techniques are being widely adopted by health professionals working with long-term conditions (Thewes et al, 2014).…”

“…Given the evidence of ACT's existing clinical usage in this context (Thewes et al, 2014), calls for further application (Angiola & Bowen, 2013;Graham et al, 2015;Hadlandsmyth et al, 2013;Low et al, 2012;Whittingham, 2014), and the rapid rate of growth in ACT intervention studies (Öst, 2014), we present a timely review of ACT for long-term conditions.…”