Oral Presentation Cancer Survivorship Conference 2023

An international replication randomised controlled trial of a cancer survivorship eHealth intervention: Preliminary Findings from the Finding My Way UK Clinical Trial (#13)

Nicholas J Hulbert-Williams 1 , Monica Leslie 2 , Lee Hulbert-Williams 2 , Bogda Koczwara 3 , Eila Watson 4 , Peter Hall 5 , Laura Ashley 6 , Neil S Coulson 7 , Richard Jackson 8 , Sue Millington 9 , - The Finding My Way UK Trial Steering Group 10 , Lisa Beatty 11
  1. Department of Psychology, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, United Kingdom
  2. University of Chester, Chester, CHESHIRE, United Kingdom
  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  4. Oxford School of Nursing & Midwifery, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
  5. CRUK Edinburgh Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
  6. School of Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
  7. School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
  8. CRUK Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
  9. Cancer Survivor Research Partner, Chester, Cheshire, United Kingdom
  10. N/A, Chester, United Kingdom
  11. College of Education, Psychology & Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, United Kingdom

“Finding My Way” (FMW) is an online cognitive-behavioural therapy-based programme, developed in Australia to support psychosocial outcomes in cancer. The programme consists of six self-guided modules covering common needs and concerns, each released weekly. Participants receive access to a booster module one month later. A previous clinical trial found that completing the FMW programme, versus an information-only control, was associated with better emotional functioning and reduced healthcare utilisation amongst Australian cancer survivors.

 

Our work adapted the content of FMW for the UK healthcare setting, prior to undertaking a replication trial to investigate the efficacy of FMW-UK in reducing cancer-specific distress (primary outcome), improving mental health outcomes, and reducing healthcare utilisation (secondary outcomes). Adaptations were made to video and written content without altering the structure or therapeutic basis of the intervention. Supported by the UK Clinical Research Network, we recruited 299 adult cancer survivors on a curative treatment pathway between April 2021 and August 2022. At baseline, participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing socio-demographic characteristics, primary and secondary outcomes, and postulated intervention moderators/mediators. Participants were randomised to the intervention group or an information signposting control group on a one-to-one basis. Participants completed questionnaires assessing primary and secondary outcomes and postulated intervention mediators at mid-treatment, post-treatment, and at three- and six-month follow-up.

 

Compared to pre-pandemic UK population norms, our baseline sample had slightly higher anxiety and depression, and marginally poorer global health status. Cancer-specific distress and general distress were greater than in the Australian FMW sample, which was conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rates of follow-up completion and engagement with intervention content are comparable with the Australian trial. All participants have now completed the intervention phase of the trial, with follow-up data collection continuing until early 2023. We will discuss intervention adaptation and preliminary trial findings at the conference.