Daniel L Hall1, Elyse R Park2, Tina Cheung3, Roger B Davis4, Gloria Y Yeh3. 1. Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America. Electronic address: hall@mgh.harvard.edu. 2. Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America. 3. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America. 4. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States of America.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Interventions for fear of recurrence (FOR) of cancer have nominal effects, perhaps due to limited integration of empirically supported skills. This pilot trial tested the acceptability and feasibility of a multimodal, mind-body resiliency intervention targeting FOR among survivors of various cancers. METHODS: Early stage cancer survivors 3-30 months post-treatment were recruited to participate in an eight-session in-person mind-body resiliency group intervention that taught relaxation skills, cognitive-behavioral techniques, healthy lifestyle behaviors, mindfulness meditation, and positive psychology skills all targeted for FOR. Primary outcomes were feasibility (enrollment rate, session attendance, survey completion, skills practice) and acceptability (enjoyableness, convenience, helpfulness, relevance). Patient-reported outcomes (FOR, uncertainty intolerance, cancer-related uncertainty, perceived stress, resiliency, positive affect, and coping skills) were collected at baseline, post-intervention, +1 month, and +3 months. Exit interviews assessed survivors' reported benefits. RESULTS: Participants (N = 4 groups, 23 survivors, enrollment response rate = 58%) included survivors of seven common cancer types who were on average 12 months post-treatment. Attendance was high (M = 6.1 sessions), and 96% of survivors completed all surveys. Sustained increases in relaxation skills practice 3+ days/week were reported (baseline = 16%, post-intervention = 76%, +3 months = 71%). Most sessions (87%) were rated as highly or very highly acceptable. Moderate-to-large (d = 0.87) improvements in FOR severity were observed post-intervention (p < .01) and across assessments (p < .01), with similar changes observed in other patient-reported outcomes. Exit interviews revealed behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and existential benefits. CONCLUSIONS: The targeted mind-body resiliency intervention shows promising acceptability, feasibility, and favorable changes in FOR and coping skills practice. Further adaptation and testing in a randomized trial are warranted. ClinicalTrials.govRegistration Number: NCT03695406.
OBJECTIVE: Interventions for fear of recurrence (FOR) of cancer have nominal effects, perhaps due to limited integration of empirically supported skills. This pilot trial tested the acceptability and feasibility of a multimodal, mind-body resiliency intervention targeting FOR among survivors of various cancers. METHODS: Early stage cancer survivors 3-30 months post-treatment were recruited to participate in an eight-session in-person mind-body resiliency group intervention that taught relaxation skills, cognitive-behavioral techniques, healthy lifestyle behaviors, mindfulness meditation, and positive psychology skills all targeted for FOR. Primary outcomes were feasibility (enrollment rate, session attendance, survey completion, skills practice) and acceptability (enjoyableness, convenience, helpfulness, relevance). Patient-reported outcomes (FOR, uncertainty intolerance, cancer-related uncertainty, perceived stress, resiliency, positive affect, and coping skills) were collected at baseline, post-intervention, +1 month, and +3 months. Exit interviews assessed survivors' reported benefits. RESULTS: Participants (N = 4 groups, 23 survivors, enrollment response rate = 58%) included survivors of seven common cancer types who were on average 12 months post-treatment. Attendance was high (M = 6.1 sessions), and 96% of survivors completed all surveys. Sustained increases in relaxation skills practice 3+ days/week were reported (baseline = 16%, post-intervention = 76%, +3 months = 71%). Most sessions (87%) were rated as highly or very highly acceptable. Moderate-to-large (d = 0.87) improvements in FOR severity were observed post-intervention (p < .01) and across assessments (p < .01), with similar changes observed in other patient-reported outcomes. Exit interviews revealed behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and existential benefits. CONCLUSIONS: The targeted mind-body resiliency intervention shows promising acceptability, feasibility, and favorable changes in FOR and coping skills practice. Further adaptation and testing in a randomized trial are warranted. ClinicalTrials.govRegistration Number: NCT03695406.
Authors: Daniel L Hall; Rachel B Jimenez; Giselle K Perez; Julia Rabin; Katharine Quain; Gloria Y Yeh; Elyse R Park; Jeffrey M Peppercorn Journal: J Oncol Pract Date: 2019-07-12 Impact factor: 3.840
Authors: Daniel L Hall; Inga T Lennes; William F Pirl; Emily R Friedman; Elyse R Park Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2016-12-13 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Daniel L Hall; Christina M Luberto; Lisa L Philpotts; Rhayun Song; Elyse R Park; Gloria Y Yeh Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2018-06-05 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: Elyse R Park; Christina M Luberto; Emma Chad-Friedman; Lara Traeger; Daniel L Hall; Giselle K Perez; Brett Goshe; Ana-Maria Vranceanu; Margaret Baim; John W Denninger Md PhD; Gregory Fricchione Md; Herbert Benson Md; Suzanne C Lechner Journal: Glob Adv Health Med Date: 2021-03-24
Authors: Ashlee R Loughan; Kelcie D Willis; Sarah Ellen Braun; Gary Rodin; Autumn Lanoye; Alexandria E Davies; Dace Svikis; Suzanne Mazzeo; Mark Malkin; Leroy Thacker Journal: J Neurooncol Date: 2022-04-18 Impact factor: 4.506
Authors: Zachary S Wallace; Claire Cook; Lucy Finkelstein-Fox; Xiaoqing Fu; Flavia V Castelino; Hyon K Choi; Cory Perugino; John H Stone; Elyse R Park; Daniel L Hall Journal: J Rheumatol Date: 2022-04-01 Impact factor: 5.346
Authors: Lynne I Wagner; Janet A Tooze; Daniel L Hall; Beverly J Levine; Jennifer Beaumont; Jenna Duffecy; David Victorson; William Gradishar; Joseph Leach; Thomas Saphner; Keren Sturtz; Mary Lou Smith; Frank Penedo; David C Mohr; David Cella Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 2021-11-02 Impact factor: 11.816
Authors: Daniel L Hall; Gloria Y Yeh; Conall O'Cleirigh; Jeffrey Peppercorn; Lynne I Wagner; John Denninger; Andrea J Bullock; Helen R Mizrach; Brett Goshe; Tina Cheung; Raissa Li; Alexandros Markowitz; Elyse R Park Journal: Glob Adv Health Med Date: 2022-01-27
Authors: Helen Mizrach; Brett Goshe; Elyse R Park; Christopher Recklitis; Joseph A Greer; Yuchiao Chang; Natasha Frederick; Annah Abrams; Mary D Tower; Emily A Walsh; Mary Huang; Lisa Kenney; Alan Homans; Karen Miller; John Denninger; Ghazala Naheed Usmani; Jeffrey Peppercorn; Giselle K Perez Journal: JMIR Res Protoc Date: 2022-01-26
Authors: Lucy Finkelstein-Fox; Autumn W Rasmussen; Daniel L Hall; Giselle K Perez; Amy H Comander; Jeffrey Peppercorn; Reid Anctil; Cathy Wang; Elyse R Park Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2022-04-06 Impact factor: 3.359