Evaluation of a telehealth psychological support intervention for people with primary brain tumour and their family members: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Corresponding Author
Tamara Ownsworth
School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Correspondence
Tamara Ownsworth, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, Queensland 4122, Australia.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorSuzanne Chambers
University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer (ANZUP) Trials Group, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorJoanne F. Aitken
Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
School of Research–Public Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorMatthew Foote
Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorMark B. Pinkham
Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorLouisa G. Gordon
School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorGemma Lock
Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorBrigid Hanley
Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorTracey Gardner
Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorStephanie Jones
School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorJulia Robertson
School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorDavid Shum
School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Search for more papers by this authorElizabeth Conlon
School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Tamara Ownsworth
School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Correspondence
Tamara Ownsworth, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, Queensland 4122, Australia.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorSuzanne Chambers
University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer (ANZUP) Trials Group, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorJoanne F. Aitken
Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
School of Research–Public Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorMatthew Foote
Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorMark B. Pinkham
Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorLouisa G. Gordon
School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorGemma Lock
Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorBrigid Hanley
Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorTracey Gardner
Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorStephanie Jones
School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorJulia Robertson
School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorDavid Shum
School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Search for more papers by this authorElizabeth Conlon
School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorFunding information
National Health and Medical Research Council and Cancer Council Queensland.
Abstract
Objective
There is a lack of research on interventions that address the specific psychosocial needs of people with brain tumour and their families. This paper describes the protocol for a pragmatic randomised control trial (RCT) evaluating the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the Making Sense of Brain Tumour program delivered via telehealth (Tele-MAST) relative to standard care.
Methods
The 148 adults with primary brain tumour will be randomly allocated to the 10-session Tele-MAST videoconferencing program or standard care from a cancer counselling service. The primary outcome is level of depression and secondary outcomes are quality of life, mental health and incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year. The mental health and quality of life of family members will also be assessed. Assessments will be conducted at pre-intervention, post-intervention (primary endpoint), 6-weeks post-intervention and 6-months post-intervention. The main analysis will determine whether the Tele-MAST intervention is more effective than standard care at post-intervention, and whether these effects are sustained at follow-up.
Conclusion
Results will indicate whether the Tele-MAST program is associated with better clinical outcomes and is more cost-effective than existing cancer support services. Such outcomes will contribute to effective and accessible psychosocial care for the brain tumour population.
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