Fear of Cancer Recurrence (FoR) Trajectory During Radiation Treatment (FORECAST)

September 27, 2018 updated by: Prof G Humphris, University of St Andrews

Fear of Cancer Recurrence (FoR) Trajectory During Radiation Treatment and Follow-up Into Survivorship of 100 Breast Cancer patients-a Pilot Study

This pilot study concentrates on studying the trajectory of breast cancer patient's fear of recurrence (FoR) over the course of radiation therapy. The aim is to collect repeated ratings of 100 breast cancer patient's FoR over the course of their treatment. It is hypothesized that cancer patient's FoR level will rise on nearing the termination of the in radiotherapy treatment, and radiotherapist-patient interaction modifies the development of patient's FoR.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

The aim of this pilot study is to examine the collection of FoR levels in a longitudinal design with 100 breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy for their disease. In this study, an intensive longitudinal design will be employed (Bolger & Laurenceau, 2013). There will be two data collection types. First, will be self-reported questionnaires. Patients will complete questions including three sections: 1) demographic information (i.e. age, education, employment, marital/family status), 2) a 7-item FoR scale (ACCRE FCR) and 3) a 20-item Affect Schedule (PANAS) before first radiation treatment (T1). Throughout the period of treatment, a 3-item FoR questionnaire (ACCRE FCR 3 Items) will be designed as a daily diary to monitor patient's FoR level. Then, at the end of the radiotherapy treatment (T2), PANAS will be measured again. Finally, six-eight weeks after the end of the treatment (T3), all participants will be asked to complete the 7-items FCR questionnaire once again as well as a 5-item EuroQoL EQ-5D-3L scale by telephone.

The second data collection media is audiotape. The conversations between radiotherapist and patient in the weekly review appointment will be recorded and a behavioural coding system (VR-CoDES) will be used to analyse the interactions between patient and radiotherapist.

Data analysis will involve statistical analysis and qualitative methods. Statistical analyses will be conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Analytics software v.22, Analysis of MOment Structures (AMOS) v.22 and MPlus™ (SEM: Structural Equation Modelling). Initial analysis will plot individual and group average curves over the days that patients are treated. The analysis will develop a statistical model based upon SEM principles of growth curves. Each patient is expected to disclose increased fears of recurrence over the course of treatment. Latent curve modelling will be developed to test the relationship of FoR over the time course of the treatment.

As part of this pilot study the investigators wish to investigate the appropriateness of these models and to test the extent of growth of FoR to the outcome at 6-8 weeks follow up, using the FoR 7 item measure. Covariates will be introduced for control purposes and indicate initial level of negative affectivity (The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - PANAS), age and initial level of disease severity. Alternative strategies of analysis are considered appropriate and may enable a parallel strategy. This would involve a simpler approach concentrating on the raw data. Linear modelling (multi-level) which will include estimation of linear slopes being used to predict FoR outcome.

Audio recordings of the consultation will be transcribed verbatim in order to investigate how the radiotherapist-patient communication affects the development of FoR.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

97

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United Kingdom
      • Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH4 2XU
        • NHS Lothian Edinburgh Cancer Centre

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

In this study, 100 breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre will be recruited.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female patient who are diagnosed with breast cancer, age 18+

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Under 18 years old
  • Male
  • Known psychiatric illness
  • Receiving palliative radiotherapy (non-curative)
  • Unable to communicate in English

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
breast cancer radiation therapy
Observation over a period of all treatment sessions for radiotherapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Fear of Recurrence Level-ACCRE FCR
Time Frame: 6-8 weeks after treatment
The ACCRE FCR scale has been employed in a national study, it ranges from 4-20. A score of 10 is a significant level (60th percentile) considered appropriate for the patient to receive a brief intervention.
6-8 weeks after treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)
Time Frame: 4 weeks following baseline visit
The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) is a 20-item self-report measure of positive and negative affect. The PANAS has been shown to possess adequate psychometric properties in a large sample drawn from the general adult population, and the construct validity of the PANAS scales and the reliabilities of both scales were adequate, Cronbach's α were 0.89 for Positive Affectivity and 0.85 for Negative Affectivity (Crawford & Henry, 2004).
4 weeks following baseline visit
5 EQ-5D-3L
Time Frame: 6-8 weeks after treatment
The EQ-5D-3L is a standardised instrument for use as a measure of health outcome and was developed by the EuroQol Research foundation. It consists of five questions relating to five dimensions of health; mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain and discomfort and anxiety and depression. The EQ-5D has well-established validity and reliability and has been used in many studies of patients with a variety of chronic conditions in many different countries (Schrag et al., 2000; Walters & Brazier, 2005).
6-8 weeks after treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of St Andrews

Collaborators

NHS Lothian

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Gerald M Humphris, PhD, University of St Andrews

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

December 1, 2015

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2016

Study Completion (Actual)

October 31, 2016

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 3, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 5, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

November 6, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 1, 2018

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 27, 2018

Last Verified

September 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 20l5MaySP529

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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