A multimodal cancer rehabilitation programme promoting sense of coherence for women treated for female reproductive cancers: a pilot randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a theory-driven multimodal cancer rehabilitation intervention (MCRI) programme among Hong Kong Chinese women treated for female reproductive cancers (FRC). Methods A single-blinded randomised controlled trial was conducted in two regional hospitals in Hong Kong involving 35 women treated for FRC. The intervention group (n = 18) received a 12-week MCRI which included 30 modules of app-based health education and three nurse-led individual counselling sessions. The control group (n = 17) received attention from the research nurse through telephone calls. Sense of coherence, health-related quality of life, and cancer-specific distress were measured at baseline (T0), immediately after completion of the intervention (T1) and 12 weeks post-intervention (T2). Twelve intervention completers were interviewed to explore the acceptability of the programme. Results Recruitment, consent, and retention rates, counselling session attendance rate, and app usage were satisfactory. The intervention participants reported to have significant improvement in physical well-being at T1 (Cohen’s d effect size (d) = 1.04, 95% CI 0.24, 1.83), sense of coherence (d = 0.76, 95% CI − 0.03, 1.54), and cancer-specific distress (d = 1.03, 95% CI − 1.83, − 0.21) at T2. Interviewed participants acknowledged the benefits of the programme and provided comments for improvement. Conclusions The MCRI is found to be feasible and acceptable and may improve their sense of coherence, distress, and physical health. A full-scale trial using a larger and more representative sample is warranted to confirm the effects of the programme. Implications for Cancer Survivors Women treated for FRC may be benefited from the MCRI in improving sense of coherence, physical well-being, and distress. Trial registration This trial was registered on ISRCTN registry with ID ISRCTN73177277.