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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Apr;29(4):719-728.
doi: 10.1002/pon.5324. Epub 2020 Feb 11.

Does a regular nurse-led distress screening and discussion improve quality of life of breast cancer patients treated with curative intent? A randomized controlled trial

Floortje K Ploos van Amstel  1 , Marlies E W J Peters  1 , Rogier Donders  2 , Margrethe S Schlooz-Vries  3 , Lenny J M Polman  3 , Winette T A van der Graaf  1 , Judith B Prins  4 , Petronella B Ottevanger  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Does a regular nurse-led distress screening and discussion improve quality of life of breast cancer patients treated with curative intent? A randomized controlled trial

Floortje K Ploos van Amstel et al. Psychooncology. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: We performed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to investigate whether regular screening with the distress thermometer (DT) by a nurse improved global quality of life (QOL) of patients with breast cancer (BC) treated with curative intent.

Methods: BC patients were randomized between regular screening for distress with a nurse-led DT intervention (NDTI) and usual care (UC). Both groups filled out questionnaires at baseline, after each received treatment modality and at follow-up visits up to 2 years. At these points, the intervention group received also the NDTI. The primary outcome was the global QOL of the EORTC QLQ C30 at 2 years after the end of treatment. Analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis, using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), generalized least squares, and interaction analyses.

Results: Of 194 randomized patients, 153 filled out the questionnaires up to 2 years after treatment. There was no significant difference between NDTI and UC in global QOL 2 years after the end of treatment (mean diff. = -1∙273, P = .610; 95% CI [-6.195; 3.649]). Subgroup analysis of patients who received multimodality treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, n = 66) showed a significant between-group difference in global QOL over time (mean diff. = -10, P < .001; 95% CI [-14.835; -5.167]) together with other secondary outcome measures in favor of the NDTI.

Conclusion: NDTI did not lead to a significant improvement in global QOL 2 years after the end of treatment for patients with BC. However, the findings indicate that BC patients who received multimodality treatment may benefit from NDTI.

Keywords: RCT; breast cancer; cancer; distress; distress screening; distress thermometer; nurse-led intervention; oncology; psychosocial intervention; quality of life.

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References

REFERENCES

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