A randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of a self-administered psycho-educational intervention for patients with cancer
Abstract
Objective Bibliotherapy refers to psychological self-help interventions that utilize treatment books to improve psychological well-being. Research supports bibliotherapy as an efficacious intervention for a variety of mental health problems. Yet, few studies have investigated bibliotherapy in psychosocial oncology. The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the efficacy of the NuCare intervention, delivered as a self-directed workbook, for enhancing empowerment, coping, and quality of life and reducing distress in patients with cancer.Methods Eighty-nine adult patients with cancer were randomized to receive the workbook for 6 weeks or the control condition, usual care. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, 6 weeks post-baseline, and 10 weeks post-baseline.Results The increase of empowerment (main outcome) and quality of life and the decrease of distress in the NuCare group from pre-intervention to follow-up assessment differed significantly from the respective difference scores in the control group.Conclusions The self-administered NuCare workbook is a potentially cost-effective, minimal intervention addressing psychosocial needs of patients with cancer.Practice implications Evidence-based bibliotherapy can empower patients and has the promise of reducing the burden on the healthcare system while enhancing the immediacy of psychosocial support.
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Rising patient numbers, a lack of mental health specialists, geographic restrictions, and the high cost of therapy are obstacles to traditional psychological support.
“Rising patient numbers, a lack of mental health specialists, geographic restrictions, and the high cost of therapy are further obstacles to traditional psychological support [13,14].”
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Talking Cancer—Cancer Talking: A Linguistic and Thematic Analysis of Patient Narratives
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- Authors
- Körner, A., Roberts, N., Steele, R. J., Brosseau, D. C., & Rosberger, Z.
- Affiliations
- McGill University Health Centre (CA)
- McGill University (CA)
- The King's University (CA)
- Jewish General Hospital (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Körner, Annett
- Venue
- Patient Education and Counseling
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-04
- Volume
- 102
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 735-741
- ISSN
- 0738-3991 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2903486135
- Cited by
- 19
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 0.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Patient Education and Counseling (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (236623)
- Psychosocial Oncology Research Training (PORT) program
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Conservation › Art Therapy and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- bibliotherapy, psychoeducational intervention, cancer patients, self-help workbook, psycho-oncology, patient empowerment, coping, quality of life, distress, psychosocial support
- MeSH terms
- Self-Management, Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Bibliotherapy, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Power, Psychological, Quality of Life, Self Care, Stress, Psychological, Treatment Outcome, Self Efficacy, Young Adult
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