Video conference vs face-to-face group psychotherapy for distressed cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study assesses the effectiveness of face-to-face group positive psychotherapy for cancer survivors (PPC) compared to its online adaptation, online group positive psychotherapy for cancer survivors (OPPC), which is held via videoconference. A two-arm, pragmatic randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the effects of both interventions on emotional distress, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and post-traumatic growth (PTG) among cancer survivors and analyze attrition to treatment. METHODS: Adult women with a range of cancer diagnoses were invited to participate if they experienced emotional distress at the end of their primary oncological treatment. Emotional distress, PTSS, and PTG were assessed at baseline, immediately after treatment, and 3 months after treatment. Intention-to-treat analyses were carried out using general linear mixed models to test the effect of the interventions overtime. Logistic regressions were performed to test differential adherence to treatment and retention to follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 269 individuals participated. The observed treatment effect was significant in both modalities, PPC and OPPC. Emotional distress (b = -2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -3.15 to -1.33) and PTSS (b = -3.25, 95% CI = -4.97 to -1.53) decreased significantly over time, and PTG (b = 3.08, 95% CI = 0.38-5.78) increased significantly. Treatment gains were sustained across outcomes and over time. Analyses revealed no significant differences between modalities of treatment, after adjusting for baseline differences, finding that OPPC is as effective and engaging as PPC. CONCLUSIONS: The OPPC treatment was found to be effective and engaging for female cancer early survivors. These results open the door for psycho-oncology interventions via videoconference, which are likely to lead to greater accessibility and availability of psychotherapy.

A systematic and comprehensive review of internet use in cancer patients: Psychological factors.

OBJECTIVES: Online resources are changing patient-professional relationship and care delivery by empowering patients to engage in decisions in order to cope with their illness and modify behaviors. This review analyses the psychological factors associated with spontaneous and health professional-guided internet use in cancer patients. METHODS: Searches were performed in the PubMed (MEDLINE), PsycINFO, and Scopus databases. Studies were included if they involved cancer patients or focused on the relationship between cancer patients and health professionals, describing either patients' spontaneous use of interne or a guided-structured eHealth psychosocial intervention. RESULTS: Seventy-seven scientific papers were finally included. Results described emotional and behavioral outcomes in cancer patients who accessed online information. Internet has long been used spontaneously not only as a source of medical information or symptom management but also for decision making or emotional and social support. Health professionals can guide internet use, providing specific web-based recommendations and developing intervention programs to better meet patients' needs, such as educational or information programs. CONCLUSION: Online access is a complementary form of care that physicians can provide. Patients benefit from online resources, especially when both they and their health professionals increase their engagement with online interventions such as integrated systems or online communities.

ICOnnecta't: Development and Initial Results of a Stepped Psychosocial eHealth Ecosystem to Facilitate Risk Assessment and Prevention of Early Emotional Distress in Breast Cancer Survivors' Journey.

Psychosocial interventions prevent emotional distress and facilitate adaptation in breast cancer (BC). However, conventional care presents accessibility barriers that eHealth has the potential to overcome. ICOnnecta't is a stepped digital ecosystem designed to build wellbeing and reduce psychosocial risks during the cancer journey through a European-funded project. Women recently diagnosed with BC in a comprehensive cancer center were offered the ecosystem. ICOnnecta't consists of four care levels, provided according to users' distress: screening and monitoring, psychoeducation campus, peer-support community, and online-group psychotherapy. Descriptive analyses were conducted to assess the platform's implementation, while multilevel linear models were used to study users' psychosocial course after diagnosis. ICOnnecta't showed acceptance, use and attrition rates of 57.62, 74.60, and 29.66%, respectively. Up to 76.19% of users reported being satisfied with the platform and 75.95% informed that it was easy to use. A total of 443 patients' needs were detected and responsively managed, leading 94.33% of users to remain in the preventive steps. In general, strong social support led to a better psychosocial course. ICOnnecta't has been successfully implemented. The results showed that it supported the development of a digital relation with healthcare services and opened new early support pathways.