Lamarche Jani, Nissim Rinat, Avery Jonathan, Wong Jiahui, Maheu Christine, Lambert Sylvie D, Laizner Andrea M, Jones Jennifer, Esplen Mary Jane, Lebel Sophie
School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.
Psychooncology. 2025 Feb;34(2):e70084. doi: 10.1002/pon.70084.
Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is common, persistent, and associated with lower quality of life, impaired functioning, and psychological distress in family caregivers (FC) of individuals with a cancer diagnosis. Interventions are needed to specifically target FCR in FC. This study aimed to pilot test the adapted Family Caregiver-Fear Of Recurrence Therapy (FC-FORT) to establish its feasibility, acceptability, and clinical significance.
This pilot study used a mixed-method, parallel, two-group randomized control trial (FC-FORT vs. waitlist control group) design. Women FC were recruited through Canadian hospitals, community partners, and social media. FC in the intervention group completed 7 weekly sessions of virtual group therapy (FC-FORT) and an exit interview. All participants completed questionnaires at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Feasibility (e.g., recruitment, allocation, fidelity), acceptability (e.g., dropout, completion, satisfaction) and clinical significance of secondary outcomes were evaluated. Descriptive statistics, mixed ANOVAs, and conventional content analyses were used.
Regarding feasibility, 22 FC were recruited, 18 were randomized and therapist fidelity was 87%. As to acceptability, 67% of participants completed 5 sessions (33% dropout). Questionnaire completion rate was 92%. FC satisfaction was 80%. Analyses did not reveal any significant differences on the secondary outcomes between groups. Qualitative analyses revealed high importance, helpfulness, satisfaction, and group cohesion. Suggestions were made by FC for improvements.
This is one of the first interventions to address FCR in FC. While acceptability of FC-FORT was good, important feasibility issues need to be addressed before moving forward with a larger randomized control trial.
NCT, NCT05441384. Registered July 1st, 2022, https://classic.
gov/ct2/show/NCT05441384.
癌症复发恐惧（FCR）很常见且持续存在，与癌症诊断患者的家庭照顾者（FC）生活质量较低、功能受损及心理困扰相关。需要针对家庭照顾者的癌症复发恐惧进行专门干预。本研究旨在对改编后的家庭照顾者-癌症复发恐惧疗法（FC-FORT）进行试点测试，以确定其可行性、可接受性和临床意义。
本试点研究采用混合方法、平行、两组随机对照试验（FC-FORT组与等待列表对照组）设计。通过加拿大医院、社区合作伙伴和社交媒体招募女性家庭照顾者。干预组的家庭照顾者完成了7次每周一次的虚拟团体治疗（FC-FORT）和一次退出访谈。所有参与者在基线、干预后和3个月随访时完成问卷。评估了可行性（如招募、分配、保真度）、可接受性（如退出、完成、满意度）以及次要结局的临床意义。使用描述性统计、混合方差分析和传统内容分析。
在可行性方面，招募了22名家庭照顾者，18名被随机分组，治疗师保真度为87%。在可接受性方面，67%的参与者完成了5次治疗（33%退出）。问卷完成率为92%。家庭照顾者满意度为80%。分析未发现两组在次要结局上有任何显著差异。定性分析显示高度重视、有帮助、满意度高且团体凝聚力强。家庭照顾者提出了改进建议。
这是首批针对家庭照顾者癌症复发恐惧的干预措施之一。虽然FC-FORT的可接受性良好，但在进行更大规模的随机对照试验之前，需要解决重要的可行性问题。
NCT，NCT05441384。于2022年7月1日注册，https://classic.
gov/ct2/show/NCT05441384。
