Living Well after Cancer Treatment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the Impact of Psychological Flexibility on the Relationship between Fears of Cancer Recurrence and Adjustment in Cancer Survivors.
IRAS ID
165795
Contact name
Kate Randell
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 29 days
Research summary
Fear of cancer recurrence is one of the biggest challenges faced by cancer patients as they reintegrate into community settings following completion of cancer treatment. Patient reports suggest that that these fears are not always sufficiently addressed, and for some patients they can result in high levels of distress; reduced quality of life; poor self-care; and increased health service use. However, while experiencing fears of cancer recurrence is extremely common, not all patients experience such negative consequences as a result.
Currently, we know very little about which factors influence how different individuals will be affected by fears of recurrence. The proposed study will investigate one possible factor, called psychological flexibility. The concept of psychological flexibility comes from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which is a psychological therapy that aims not to change unpleasant experiences, but to teach people to relate to their experiences in a different way, helping them to lead a rich and valued life.
The study will recruit people who have been diagnosed with different types of cancer who have completed curative cancer treatment within the previous two years, via Maggies Cancer Centres. Both online and face-to-face data collection will be used, to allow the greatest number of cancer survivors to take part in the research. Participation will involve completing 8 brief questionnaires on one occasion, taking no longer than 25 minutes.
Findings from the study could offer exciting possibilities for (1) more effective identification of those cancer patients who are more at risk of being negatively impacted by fears of recurrence, as they go back in to the community following completion of their cancer treatment, and (2) the development of a new psychological treatment for cancer patients at this point in their cancer journey, based on ACT, aimed at helping reduce the negative effects of fears of recurrence.REC name
South East Scotland REC 01
REC reference
15/SS/0116
Date of REC Opinion
6 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion