Innv-23. Lifestyle Coaching Is Feasible and Improves Pilot Outcomes in Fatigued Brain Tumour Patients: The Bt-Life (Brain Tumours, Lifestyle Interventions, and Fatigue Evaluation) Multi-Centre, Phase Ii RCT

Abstract

BACKGROUND Fatigue is common and disabling for brain tumour patients. We studied the feasibility of two innovative lifestyle coaching interventions for high fatigue. METHODS Multi-centre phase II feasibility RCT (ISRCTN17883425). Adult primary brain tumour outpatients reporting significant fatigue (Brief Fatigue Inventory [BFI] score 4+), were randomised to one of three arms: Control; Health Coaching (“HC”, comprising eight structured coaching sessions on lifestyle behaviours); or HC plus Activation Coaching (“HC+AC”, adding two structured interviews targeting motivation to change). Outcomes were measured at baseline (T0), after interventions (T1), and at 16 weeks (T2). The primary outcome of feasibility was required for both recruitment (aim: average n= 5 fatigued patients recruited/month) and retention (aim: minimum 60% retention at T2). Secondary pilot outcomes included change in fatigue, depressive symptom, and QOL measures. RESULTS Over a nine-month recruitment period, n= 46 fatigued brain tumour patients were recruited (average n=5.1/month) and n= 34 were retained to endpoint (retention at T2= 73%), meeting the primary outcome of feasibility. Surprisingly, fatigue reduced significantly after HC (T1 mean change in BFI score from T0 baseline, relative to the equivalent change in control group: HC= -2.3 points [95%CI -3.4/-0.3]; HC+AC= -2.0 [-2.9/+0.1]; ANOVA p= 0.02) and was reduced in magnitude in both intervention groups at T2 (p= N.S). Both interventions also improved depressive symptoms (T1 mean change in HADS-Depression: HC= -2.0 points [-5.6/-0.1]; HC+AC= -2.9 [-6.5/-1.0]; Kruskal-Wallis p= 0.02). Patient-nominated QOL outcomes improved persistently after HC+AC (T2 mean change in PSYCHLOPS score: HC= -2.4 points [-5.4/+2.8]; HC+AC= -6.1 [-9.2/-0.8]; ANOVA p= 0.01). CONCLUSION Innovative coaching interventions, focused on lifestyle factors, are feasible to deliver to fatigued brain tumour patients. Preliminary signals suggest that these non-drug approaches may benefit several mediators of quality of life and warrant further study.

Non-pharmacological fatigue interventions for patients with a primary brain tumour: a scoping review protocol

“…There is some limited research indicating that patients with PBT may benefit from cognitive rehabilitation programmes 23 or health coaching programmes. 26 Although not specifically studied in patients with a PBT, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been shown to reduce severe CRF in a variety of cancers. 27 28 CBT is a talking therapy that helps treat mental health problems by focusing on how thoughts, beliefs and attitudes impact emotions and behaviours.…”