E-intervention on Subclinical Fear of Cancer Recurrence

Conquering Fear Online: a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial Assessing the Efficacy and Feasibility of an Internet-based Self-management Intervention on Subclinical Fear of Cancer Recurrence

The present study aims to adapt a metacognition-based ConquerFear-HK to an internet-based self-management intervention, namely eConquerFear-HK and evaluate in a randomised controlled trial, its feasibility, utility, and potential effectiveness on fear of cancer recurrence reduction among local Chinese cancer survivors with subclinical fear of cancer recurrence.

A pilot randomised controlled feasibility trial will used to test the feasibility, utility, and potential effectiveness of an internet-based self-management intervention for fear of cancer recurrence among local Chinese cancer survivors with subclinical fear of cancer recurrence.

The following hypotheses will be tested:

1. There will be a greater FCR improvement in cancer survivors receiving eConquerFear-HK intervention vs those in the active control group.
2. There will be a greater MCQ reduction in cancer survivors receiving eConquerFear-HK intervention vs those in the active control group.
3. There will be greater improvements in secondary outcomes (psychological distress and quality of life) in cancer survivors receiving eConquerFear-HK intervention vs those in the active control group.
4. Cancer survivors receiving eConquerFear-HK intervention will perceive the intervention useful for managing their FCR and be satisfied with the intervention.
5. Cancer survivors receiving eConquerFear-HK intervention will show high completion rates.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Cantonese- or Mandarin-speaking Chinese cancer survivors
• recently diagnosed with potentially curable (stage 0 to III) colorectal or breast cancer
• had recently completed surgery as primary treatment
• have completed hospital-based adjuvant treatments (including radiotherapy and chemotherapy) within the past six months
• scored 13 to 21 on the fear of cancer recurrence-short form will be recruited.

Exclusion Criteria:

• non-Chinese ethnicity
• metastatic cancer
• with current diagnosis of depression or psychosis or are currently receiving psychological treatments
• language or intellectual difficulties that prevent them from understanding the intervention content
• having limited or no Internet access.