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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Oct 22;32(11):744.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08924-2.

Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a self-directed online psychosocial intervention for women with metastatic breast cancer: Finding My Way-Advanced

Amy Rigg  1 , Emma Kemp  1 , Bogda Koczwara  1   2 , Phyllis Butow  3 , Afaf Girgis  4 , Nicholas J Hulbert-Williams  5 , Billingsley Kaambwa  1 , Riki Long  6 , Penelope Schofield  7   8   9 , Jane Turner  10 , Desmond Yip  11   12 , Robyn Combes  13 , Lisa Beatty  14
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a self-directed online psychosocial intervention for women with metastatic breast cancer: Finding My Way-Advanced

Amy Rigg et al. Support Care Cancer. .

Abstract

Purpose: Few digital interventions target patients with advanced cancer. Hence, we feasibility-tested Finding My Way-Advanced (FMW-A), a self-guided program for women with metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: A single-site randomised controlled pilot trial was conducted. Participants were recruited through clinicians, professional networks, and social media and randomised to intervention or usual-care control. Participants were randomly allocated to either the intervention (FMW-A; a 6-week, 6-module CBT-based online self-directed psychosocial program for women with MBC + usual care resources) or control (usual care resources: BCNA's Hope and Hurdles kit). Feasibility outcomes included rates of recruitment, uptake, engagement, and attrition. Distress, QOL, and unmet needs were evaluated for signals of efficacy, and qualitative feedback was collected to assess acceptability.

Results: Due to COVID-19 and funding constraints, the target recruitment of 40 was not reached (n = 60 approached; n = 55 eligible; n = 35 consented). Uptake was high (n = 35/55; 63.6%), engagement modest (median 3/6 modules per user), and attrition acceptable (66% completed post-treatment). Efficacy signals were mixed: compared to controls, FMW-A participants experienced small improvements in fear of progression (d = 0.21) and global QOL (d = 0.22) and demonstrated a trend towards improvements in cancer-specific distress (d = 0.13) and role functioning (d = 0.18). However, FMW-A participants experienced small-to-moderate deteriorations in general distress (d = 0.23), mental QOL (d = 0.51), and social functioning (d = 0.27), whereas controls improved. Qualitatively, participants (n = 4) were satisfied with the program, perceived it as appropriate, but noted some sections could evoke transient distress.

Conclusion: The study demonstrated feasibility (high uptake and acceptable retention) and generated realistic recruitment estimates. While FMW-A appears promising for targeting cancer-specific distress and fear of progression, the mixed findings in quality of life and general distress warrant further revisions and testing.

Keywords: CBT; Distress; Metastatic breast cancer; Online intervention; QOL; Self-guided.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

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Fig. 1
User dashboard
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Participant flow through the RCT
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Number of modules accessed by Intervention participants
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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