1
|
Livingston PM, Winter N, Ugalde A, Orellana L, Mikocka-Walus A, Jefford M, Zalcberg J, Orford N, Hutchinson AM, Barbour A, Kiss N, Smithers BM, Watson DI, McCaffrey N, White V. iCare - a self-directed, interactive online program to improve health and wellbeing for people living with upper gastrointestinal or hepato-pancreato-biliary cancers, and their informal carers: the study protocol for a Phase II randomised controlled trial. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:144. [PMID: 38287317 PMCID: PMC10826031 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-11861-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Up to 70% of people diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract or hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) cancers experience substantial reductions in quality of life (QoL), including high distress levels, pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, weight loss and difficulty swallowing. With few advocacy groups and support systems for adults with upper GI or HPB cancers (i.e. pancreas, liver, stomach, bile duct and oesophageal) and their carers, online supportive care programs may represent an alternate cost-effective mechanism to support this patient group and carers. iCare is a self-directed, interactive, online program that provides information, resources, and psychological packages to patients and their carers from the treatment phase of their condition. The inception and development of iCare has been driven by consumers, advocacy groups, government and health professionals. The aims of this study are to determine the feasibility and acceptability of iCare, examine preliminary efficacy on health-related QoL and carer burden at 3- and 6-months post enrolment, and the potential cost-effectiveness of iCare, from health and societal perspectives, for both patients and carers. METHODS AND ANALYSIS A Phase II randomised controlled trial. Overall, 162 people with newly diagnosed upper GI or HPB cancers and 162 carers will be recruited via the Upper GI Cancer Registry, online advertisements, or hospital clinics. Patients and carers will be randomly allocated (1:1) to the iCare program or usual care. Participant assessments will be at enrolment, 3- and 6-months later. The primary outcomes are i) feasibility, measured by eligibility, recruitment, response and attrition rates, and ii) acceptability, measured by engagement with iCare (frequency of logins, time spent using iCare, and use of features over the intervention period). Secondary outcomes are patient changes in QoL and unmet needs, and carer burden, unmet needs and QoL. Linear mixed models will be fitted to obtain preliminary estimates of efficacy and variability for secondary outcomes. The economic analysis will include a cost-consequences analysis where all outcomes will be compared with costs. DISCUSSION iCare provides a potential model of supportive care to improve QoL, unmet needs and burden of disease among people living with upper GI or HPB cancers and their carers. AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY ACTRN12623001185651. This protocol reflects Version #1 26 April 2023.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia M Livingston
- Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.
- Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
- School of Nursing &, Midwifery Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
| | - Natalie Winter
- Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
- Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- School of Nursing &, Midwifery Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Anna Ugalde
- Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
- Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- School of Nursing &, Midwifery Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Liliana Orellana
- Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Michael Jefford
- Department of Health Services Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - John Zalcberg
- Department of Medical Oncology, Alfred Health and School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Neil Orford
- Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre (ANZICS-RC), SPHPM, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alison M Hutchinson
- Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
- School of Nursing &, Midwifery Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew Barbour
- Upper GI Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Nicole Kiss
- Institute for Physical Activity & Nutrition, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Bernard Mark Smithers
- Upper GI Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - David I Watson
- Discipline of Surgery, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Nikki McCaffrey
- Deakin Health Economics, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Victoria White
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fisher A, Keast R, Costa D, Sharpe L, Manicavasagar V, Anderson J, Juraskova I. Improving treatment decision-making in bipolar II disorder: a phase II randomised controlled trial of an online patient decision-aid. BMC Psychiatry 2020; 20:447. [PMID: 32943031 PMCID: PMC7495840 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-02845-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many patients with bipolar II disorder (BPII) prefer to be more informed and involved in their treatment decision-making than they currently are. Limited knowledge and involvement in one's treatment is also likely to compromise optimal BPII management. This Phase II RCT aimed to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and safety of a world-first patient decision-aid website (e-DA) to improve treatment decision-making regarding options for relapse prevention in BPII. The e-DA's potential efficacy in terms of improving quality of the decision-making process and quality of the decision made was also explored. METHODS The e-DA was based on International Patient Decision-Aid Standards and developed via an iterative co-design process. Adults with BPII diagnosis (n = 352) were recruited through a specialist outpatient clinical service and the social media of leading mental health organisations. Participants were randomised (1:1) to receive standard information with/without the e-DA (Intervention versus Control). At baseline (T0), post-treatment decision (T1) and at 3 months' post-decision follow-up (T2), participants completed a series of validated and purpose-designed questionnaires. Self-report and analytics data assessed the acceptability (e.g., perceived ease-of-use, usefulness; completed by Intervention participants only), safety (i.e., self-reported bipolar and/or anxiety symptoms), and feasibility of using the e-DA (% accessed). For all participants, questionnaires assessed constructs related to quality of the decision-making process (e.g., decisional conflict) and quality of the decision made (e.g., knowledge of treatment options and outcomes). RESULTS Intervention participants endorsed the e-DA as acceptable and feasible to use (82.1-94.6% item agreement); most self-reported using the e-DA either selectively (51.8%; relevant sections only) or thoroughly (34%). Exploratory analyses indicated the e-DA's potential efficacy to improve decision-making quality; most between-group standardised mean differences (SMD) were small-to-moderate. The largest potential effects were detected for objective treatment knowledge (- 0.69, 95% CIs - 1.04, - 0.33 at T1; and - 0.57, 95% CIs - 0.99,-0.14 at T2), decisional regret at T2 (0.42, 95% CIs 0.01, 0.84), preparation for decision-making at T1 (- 0.44, 95% CIs - 0.81, - 0.07), and the Decisional Conflict Scale Uncertainty subscale (0.42, 95% CIs 0.08, 0.08) and Total (0.36, 95% CIs 0.30, 0.69) scores, with all SMDs favouring the Intervention over the Control conditions. Regarding safety, e-DA use was not associated with worse bipolar symptoms or anxiety. CONCLUSION The e-DA appears to be acceptable, feasible, safe and potentially efficacious at improving patients' decision-making about BPII treatment. Findings also support the future adoption of the e-DA into patient care for BPII to foster treatment decisions based on the best available evidence and patient preferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12617000840381 (prospectively registered 07/06/2017).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alana Fisher
- The University of Sydney, The School of Psychology, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia. .,The University of Sydney, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
| | - Rachael Keast
- grid.1013.30000 0004 1936 834XThe University of Sydney, The School of Psychology, Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia ,grid.1013.30000 0004 1936 834XThe University of Sydney, The Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED), Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Daniel Costa
- grid.1013.30000 0004 1936 834XThe University of Sydney, The School of Psychology, Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Louise Sharpe
- grid.1013.30000 0004 1936 834XThe University of Sydney, The School of Psychology, Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Vijaya Manicavasagar
- grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432The Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Josephine Anderson
- grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432The Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Ilona Juraskova
- grid.1013.30000 0004 1936 834XThe University of Sydney, The School of Psychology, Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia ,grid.1013.30000 0004 1936 834XThe University of Sydney, The Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED), Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia
| |
Collapse
|