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Reducing the unmet needs of patients with colorectal cancer: a feasibility study of The Pathfinder Volunteer Program

journal contribution
posted on 2007-03-01, 00:00 authored by M L Macvean, Vicki WhiteVicki White, S Pratt, S Grogan, R Sanson-Fisher
GOALS OF THE WORK: Many cancer patients experience unmet needs and elevated levels of anxiety and depression. This paper describes a volunteer-delivered intervention to reduce the psychosocial needs of cancer patients and presents findings from a feasibility study of this intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The telephone-based intervention, called the Pathfinder Program, involves the assignment of volunteers to patients to assist them in addressing their needs as identified in questionnaires. Fifty-two patients with colorectal cancer were involved in the feasibility study, with 18 in the intervention. Sixty-two percent of the sample was male and the mean age was 64 years. Patients' needs were assessed using The Supportive Care Needs Survey, a colorectal cancer symptom checklist, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. All patients completed baseline questionnaires (Time 1) and 47 completed Time 2 questionnaires 3 months later. MAIN RESULTS: The most common needs were fear of the cancer spreading and returning, concerns about the worries of others, gas or wind, changes in weight, and bowel problems such as diarrhea, constipation, and pain. A statistically significant Time 1 to Time 2 decrease in supportive care needs and depression was found for the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: The Pathfinder Program has been found to be feasible, acceptable for patients, and has the potential to reduce needs and depression. A larger, randomized controlled trial is needed to determine the impact of this program on colorectal symptoms and anxiety.

History

Journal

Support care cancer

Volume

15

Issue

3

Pagination

293 - 299

Publisher

Springer

Location

Berlin, Germany

ISSN

0941-4355

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2006, Springer-Verlag