Effectiveness, acceptance and satisfaction of guided chat groups in psychosocial aftercare for outpatients with prostate cancer after prostatectomy

Abstract

BackgroundPhysical and psychological symptoms associated with prostate cancer and its treatment can cause patients to feel distressed. Furthermore, patients still experience a range of unmet support needs. Online interventions have the potential to fill a gap in cancer care by augmenting the limited available mental health services.ObjectiveThe main goal of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of guided chat groups in psychosocial aftercare for outpatients with prostate cancer. Additionally, the participants' satisfaction with and acceptance of the intervention was measured and evaluated.MethodsA quasi-experimental design was used to analyze the research questions. 18 prostate cancer patients followed five web-based chat-group sessions. 26 patients received treatment as usual. The guided chat group enabled patients to exchange concerns, problems and support with fellow patients. The intervention group and control patients had to fill in self-reported questionnaires before the intervention and at a follow-up. Outcome measures include distress, anxiety, depression, anger, need for help, quality of life (QoL), fear of progression (FoP) and coping with cancer. To analyze the effectiveness of the chat groups, an analysis of covariance was conducted.ResultsThe analysis of covariance revealed one significant difference between the two groups for the outcome anger. The difference had a large effect size (η2 = 0.160) with higher scores for the intervention group. Further differences with a medium effect size were found for coping with cancer, the physical component of quality of life and depression. The intervention group scored higher on all three outcomes.Additionally, participants reported that the atmosphere in the chat sessions was confidential and believed that the chat program worked as a bridge between inpatient treatment and daily life.ConclusionsIntervention participants reported poorer results for the primary and secondary outcomes in comparison to the control group patients at follow up, which indicates that web based chat groups may not be an effective way to decrease prostate cancer perceived distress even if the intervention participants seem to accept the intervention.

Systematic review of technology‐based interventions to improve anxiety, depression, and health‐related quality of life among patients with prostate cancer

“…After removal of duplicate papers and ineligible studies, 10 studies met our inclusion criteria, and thus, were included in this review. These studies included randomized control trials (N=6), and quasi‐experimental studies (N=4: three “2‐group pretest‐posttest” studies and one “1‐group pretest‐posttest” study) . These studies were conducted in Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States (Table ).…”

“…The TBIs aimed to provide informational, psychosocial, self‐care management, or communication support. These studies used self‐guided websites (N=5) ; web‐based programs supported by medical professionals (N=4); and a mobile health app with clinical nurse supervision (N=1) …”

“…Six studies specified that participants needed to complete 4 to 18 TBI sessions, whereas participants in four studies used the TBI programs as needed . Four studies reported that the length of each session ranged from 15 to 90 minutes . Seven studies provided technical assistance, IT training, or TBI user manuals to the participants …”

“…Four studies reported that the length of each session ranged from 15 to 90 minutes . Seven studies provided technical assistance, IT training, or TBI user manuals to the participants …”

“…Seven studies reported the TBI effects on depression . Among these studies, two reported a significant improvement in depression in the TBI users compared with the participants in control conditions .…”