The use of mHealth technologies to support acceptance and commitment therapy in cancer patients: Preliminary results from a randomized controlled trial.

内容摘要

Previous studies show positive results when acceptance and commitment therapy is used in the treatment of cancer patients. To establish the efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy in the treatment of common symptoms in cancer patients using trials with an adequate level of control. Sixty-nine patients affected by different types of cancer (breast, gynecologic, lung, colorectal and ovarian) were recruited and randomly assigned to three experimental conditions defined as follows: the ACT group, the ACT+ACT-ON group, and the waitlist group. Data relating to psychological inflexibility, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety and depression, post-traumatic growth as well as quality of life were collected before (T0) and at the end of the intervention (T1). Results showed better outcomes for the two intervention groups, but significant differences were only observed with regard to fatigue (ω2 = .074), where the ACT group obtained lower scores. This group also showed higher scores for post-traumatic growth (ω2 = .066). Similarly, in the quality-of-life subscales, results indicate significantly higher scores for physical role (ω2 = .062) and cognitive function (ω2 = .087), and lower scores for fatigue (ω2 = .118) than in the waitlist group. Preliminary results suggest that acceptance and commitment therapy is effective in improving relevant aspects such as fatigue, post-traumatic growth and key aspects of quality of life in cancer patients. However, the benefits of using the mobile application need to be confirmed.