OBJECTIVE: This randomised trial tested (i) whether a home-based expressive writing (EW) intervention improves quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and (ii) whether the intervention is more beneficial for men or for people who feel constrained in disclosing cancer-related concerns and feelings. DESIGN: Patients treated for CRC were randomised to an EW (n = 101) or control writing (CW; n = 92) group. Assessments were completed at 1 month pre- and post-intervention. Sex and perceived social constraints on disclosure were evaluated as moderators. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were depressive symptoms, sleep problems and quality of life indicators. RESULTS: Eighty-one per cent of participants completed all writing assignments. Consistent with hypotheses, relative to the CW group, participants in the EW group expressed more negative emotion in writing and rated their writings as more meaningful, personal and emotionally revealing. There were no significant main effects of EW or moderating effects of sex or social constraints on outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Although EW is feasible to use with persons who have CRC, it was not effective as a stand-alone psychotherapeutic intervention. Neither was it more effective for men nor for people who felt they could not freely disclose cancer-related concerns and feelings.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: This randomised trial tested (i) whether a home-based expressive writing (EW) intervention improves quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and (ii) whether the intervention is more beneficial for men or for people who feel constrained in disclosing cancer-related concerns and feelings. DESIGN:Patients treated for CRC were randomised to an EW (n = 101) or control writing (CW; n = 92) group. Assessments were completed at 1 month pre- and post-intervention. Sex and perceived social constraints on disclosure were evaluated as moderators. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were depressive symptoms, sleep problems and quality of life indicators. RESULTS: Eighty-one per cent of participants completed all writing assignments. Consistent with hypotheses, relative to the CW group, participants in the EW group expressed more negative emotion in writing and rated their writings as more meaningful, personal and emotionally revealing. There were no significant main effects of EW or moderating effects of sex or social constraints on outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Although EW is feasible to use with persons who have CRC, it was not effective as a stand-alone psychotherapeutic intervention. Neither was it more effective for men nor for people who felt they could not freely disclose cancer-related concerns and feelings.
Entities:
Keywords:
cancer; colorectal; expressive writing; psychological distress; quality of life; social constraints
Authors: Erika A Henry; Rebecca J Schlegel; Amelia E Talley; Lisa A Molix; B Ann Bettencourt Journal: Oncol Nurs Forum Date: 2010-11 Impact factor: 2.172
Authors: Suzanne K Chambers; Xingqiong Meng; Pip Youl; Joanne Aitken; Jeff Dunn; Peter Baade Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2011-12-27 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: M B Jensen-Johansen; S Christensen; H Valdimarsdottir; S Zakowski; A B Jensen; D H Bovbjerg; R Zachariae Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2012-09-19 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: A L Stanton; S Danoff-Burg; C L Cameron; M Bishop; C A Collins; S B Kirk; L A Sworowski; R Twillman Journal: J Consult Clin Psychol Date: 2000-10
Authors: Janet S de Moor; Lemuel Moyé; M David Low; Edgardo Rivera; S Eva Singletary; Rachel T Fouladi; Lorenzo Cohen Journal: J Soc Integr Oncol Date: 2008
Authors: Sandra G Zakowski; Casey Harris; Nancy Krueger; Kimberly K Laubmeier; Susan Garrett; Robert Flanigan; Peter Johnson Journal: Br J Health Psychol Date: 2003-09
Authors: Kathrin Milbury; Gabriel Lopez; Amy Spelman; Christopher Wood; Surena F Matin; Nizar M Tannir; Eric Jonasch; Louis Pisters; Qi Wei; Lorenzo Cohen Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2016-05-03 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: L Leermakers; S Döking; B Thewes; A M J Braamse; M F M Gielissen; J H W de Wilt; E H Collette; J Dekker; J B Prins Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2018-07-18 Impact factor: 4.430
Authors: Mikael B Jensen-Johansen; Mia S O'Toole; Søren Christensen; Heiddis Valdimarsdottir; Sandra Zakowski; Dana H Bovbjerg; Anders B Jensen; Robert Zachariae Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-02-23 Impact factor: 3.240