Impact of the CALM intervention on breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective The COVID-19 outbreak has adversely affected breast cancer patients both physically and mentally. Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) is a psychological intervention that is easy to implement. It also decreases the possibility of virus transmission because it can be administered online. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of CALM on the sleep quality, memory, psychological distress, and quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer patients during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Sixty breast cancer patients were recruited and randomly assigned to a CALM group and a Care as Usual (CAU) group. They filled in questionnaires before and after the CALM intervention and CAU. These included the Sleep Quality Scale (SQS), Prospective Memory Scale (PM), Retrospective Memory Scale (RM), Psychological Distress Thermometer (DT), and Quality of life (QoL) Scale. Results The scores of all the aforementioned scales after the CALM intervention (ACM) were significantly lower compared to the said scores before the CALM intervention (BCM) and after Care as Usual (ACU) ( t = 12.369/8.013, t = 8.632/4.583, t = 7.500/6.900, t = 12.479/9.780, t = 12.224/6.729 respectively, P < 0.05) There was a linear correlation between the QoL, DT, and SQS scores. Conclusion CALM is an effective psychotherapy for breast cancer patients, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, for improving the QoL because it relieves psychological distress and enhances sleep quality.

Tele-Health Psychological Interventions in Breast Cancer at the Time of Coronavirus: A Narrative Review

“…Online CALM interventions seem to be effective in reduction of stress levels and improve QoL (Pang et al, 2023; see Table 4) and more effectively than care as usual (Pang et al, 2023). These results are in accordance with those made in presence prior COVID-19 (Ding et al, 2020).…”

“…Pang and colleagues (2023) also found improved cognitive functions with CALM intervention and more significant improvement than care as usual (Pang et al, 2023). These results are in line with those prior COVID-19 pandemic that found a significant reduction of cognitive difficulties mediating by the effect of CALM treatment on systemic inflammatory response (especially on the pan-immune-inflammation value; PIV a marker that has a negative correlation with cognitive functions; Yao et al, 2022).…”

“…The attrition rate found during COVID-19 period was 0% (Pang et al, 2023). This rate is significantly lower than those detected in presence prior COVID-19 (above19%; Ding and more than 30%; Yao et al, 2022).…”

“…Only one study (Pang et al, 2023) investigated the CALM intervention among BC patients during the pandemic period.…”

Strategies for cancer-care resilience during the new COVID-19 wave in China

“…Worldwide, more than 30% of patients with cancer had anxiety, depression, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other physical and psychological problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. 4 Psychological stress can result in immune system deterioration and lead to increased susceptibility to infections and cancer recurrence. Therefore, in China, psychological health assessments were done in all patients with cancer in hospital and appropriate psychological interventions—such as mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy, Tai Chi, and yoga—were implemented by nurses for those affected by psychological stress.…”