NCT06745674

Online Intervention for Cancer Patients

Effectiveness of Internet-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Cancer Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Using Mixed Methods

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (actual)
• Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study will focus on supporting cancer patients who often experience emotional challenges like anxiety and depression. It will test a two-week online program called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), designed to help people manage difficult emotions and focus on what matters most in their lives. The program will include short, easy-to-follow sessions covering helpful strategies like accepting distress and staying present in the moment. Participants will be randomly assigned to either join the ACT program or wait for the program while continuing their usual care. The study aims to determine whether the ACT program can reduce psychological distress, anxiety, and depression in cancer patients. The study will use a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative data (such as changes in distress, anxiety, and depression) and qualitative insights from participant interviews. This will help us gain a deeper understanding of how the ACT program may support the psychological distress of cancer patients.

Conditions

• Cancer

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	a mobile app-delivered Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)	The study utilized a specially tailored internet-based self-help ACT program for cancer patients. It consisted of an introductory module and six core intervention modules: (1) Refusing Avoidance; (2) Accepting Distress; (3) Living in the Present Moment; (4) Observing Yourself Psychologically; (5) Exploring Meaningful Values; and (6) Committing to Action. Each module, designed to take 30-60 minutes, was delivered over a two-week period.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-01-01
• Primary completion: 2023-06-01
• Completion: 2023-06-01
• First posted: 2024-12-20
• Last updated: 2025-04-04

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China