BACKGROUND
Cognitive behavioral therapy can be effective in treating negative cancer psychology, and since fear of cancer recurrence seriously troubles cancer patients or survivors, digitalized cognitive behavioral therapy may improve the strategy used to treat FCR. There is no evidence that focuses specifically on digitalized cognitive behavioral therapy for FCR in cancer patients or survivors.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effectiveness and acceptability of digitalized CBT for FCR in cancer patients or survivors.
METHODS
Seven databases were systematically searched (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from the database build to April 6, 2023. The PRISMA guidelines were followed, and the protocol was registered in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. The included literature was evaluated using the revised Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (ROB2).
RESULTS
This review identified nine studies from five countries (the Netherlands, China, Australia, Germany, and Ireland) published between 2017 and 2023. Sample sizes ranged from 57 to 363 individuals. Text, images, video, games, interactive features, and peer group conversations were some of the technical components employed in the intervention. Digital CBT therapies for FCR in cancer patients or survivors were shown to be successful, as evidenced by the intervention group's better results when compared to those of the control group (Hedges g = -1.60, 95% CI: -2.44 to -0.77; p<0.01). The acceptability of this study showed positive results based on user feedback, with most studies having a failure rate of less than 15%. Most studies had a high risk of bias.
CONCLUSIONS
The study showed promising evidence when it came to efficacy and positive outcomes for FCR, and user feedback was positive. However, the overall risk of bias indicates that the effectiveness of the intervention needs to be interpreted with caution.
CLINICALTRIAL
PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42023427748.