Web-based Screening and Tailored Support (ENCOURAGE)

University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Breast Cancer

Treatments: Other: Web-based screening and tailored support

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01834521

NL41408.042.12 (Other Identifier)

ENCOURAGE2-2012

Details and patient eligibility

About

The ever expanding breast cancer survivor population urges the health care system to develop (cost-)effective screening and management of convalescent care needs that can be easily implemented in conventional follow-up care. Internet-delivered systems may be well-equipped to meet these demands. The aim of the current study is to assess the effectiveness of a web-based support system. Key features of this system are patient self-screening of physical and psychosocial problems, tailored patient education on reported problems and self-referral to professional care. In this era of high internet usage, we expect that internet is a highly suitable medium to provide tailored support for breast cancer patients and will empower the patient to take control over their convalescence.

Enrollment: 128 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adult female breast cancer patients (aged ≥ 18 years of age).
• Recent completion (≤6 months) of (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy for primary breast cancer
• Ability to comprehend Dutch (both reading and writing).
• Access to internet (e.g. at home, via family or friends)
• Informed consent provided

Exclusion criteria

• Chemotherapy treatment with palliative intent or recurrent breast cancer

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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128 participants in 2 patient groups

Web-based screening and tailored support

Experimental group

Description:

A personalized website (username/password) will become available to patients assigned to the intervention arm for 12 subsequent weeks. Key features of the website are self-screening, tailored patient education and self-referral. Self-screening will be performed by an online version of the Dutch Distress thermometer (DT) and Problem List (PL). Patients will receive digital feedback on their DT score immediately after test completion together with information regarding problems reported on the PL, (self)help options and possibilities for referral to professional care. Contact information of one of the investigators will also be available to discuss questions, problems and/or referral needs. Patients may also request a telephone call.

Treatment:

Other: Web-based screening and tailored support

Standard care

No Intervention group

Description:

Patients assigned to standard convalescent care will receive the usual follow-up care delivered by their treating oncologists. Patients will be referred to psychosocial or allied care by their oncologist and/or oncology nurse if certain physical and/or psychosocial problems require more in-depth professional care