Targeted Psychosocial Care throughout Full Disease Trajectories for Better Self Efficacy in Cancer Patients: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Marianne K Thygesen, Sonja Wehberg, Jens Sondergaard, Karin B Dieperink, Sharaf Karim Perdawood and Niels Qvist

Research Unit of Surgical Department, Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Odense Patient Data Explorative Network (OPEN), Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Research Unit of Oncology, Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Family Focused Healthcare Research Centre (FaCe), Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Slagelse Hospital, Denmark

^*Correspondance to: Marianne K Thygesen 

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Abstract:

Main Objective: Continuously support and coordination of psychosocial care to patients, added to usual care in whole cancer trajectories will better support patient self-efficacy, than will usual care.
Participants: Patients in the diagnostic period of colorectal cancer.
Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, 280 Danish patients will be assigned to one of two groups. 1) Usual care: Patient-centered and performed by nurses and secretaries, who can answer department specific questions. They work in separate relevant hospital units. 2) Usual care plus intervention: An additional offer of one or two nurse navigators to follow patients throughout the whole cancer trajectory. Nurse navigators offers a family-centered approach targeting patient selfefficacy
by assessment of distress and unmet needs, and intelligent integration of psychosocial care activities from hospitals, primary care, spiritual and social care, not-for-profit organizations, and families. Data is collected with questionnaires. The primary outcome measure is change in patients’ self-efficacy for cancer. Secondary outcomes are unmet needs, continuity of care, health related
quality of life and nurse navigation time spent. The adjustment of the intervention after pilot test is reported.
Conclusion: The study will be performed in primarily low and middle-income areas in Denmark, and as the intervention is complex, the underlying evidence based theories will serve for good guesses of causal processes. If positive results, we will be able to further advise the clinic in their efforts to reach a goal of optimal support in cancer trajectories.

Keywords:

Self-efficacy; Needs assessment; Psychosocial support; Nurse navigation; Cancer

Cite the Article:

Thygesen MK, Wehberg S, Sondergaard J, Dieperink KB, Perdawood SK, Qvist N. Targeted Psychosocial Care throughout Full 
Disease Trajectories for Better Self Efficacy in Cancer Patients: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. Clin Oncol. 2021;6:1815..