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Clinical Trial
. 2024 Mar;33(3):e6316.
doi: 10.1002/pon.6316.

"Pathways": A hope-enhancing intervention for patients undergoing treatment for advanced lung cancer

Laurie E McLouth  1   2 , Brent J Shelton  2   3 , Vilma Bursac  1 , Jessica L Burris  2   4 , Jennifer S Cheavens  5 , Kaitlyn Weyman  6 , Amy H Peterman  7 , Lauren Corum  2 , Jamie L Studts  8 , Susanne M Arnold  2   9
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

"Pathways": A hope-enhancing intervention for patients undergoing treatment for advanced lung cancer

Laurie E McLouth et al. Psychooncology. 2024 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: Observational data suggest hope is associated with the quality of life and survival of people with cancer. This trial examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of "Pathways," a hope intervention for people in treatment for advanced lung cancer.

Methods: Between 2020 and 2022, we conducted a single-arm trial of Pathways among participants who were 3-12 weeks into systemic treatment. Pathways consisted of two individual sessions delivered during infusions and three phone calls in which participants discussed their values, goals, and goal strategies with a nurse or occupational therapist. Participants completed standardized measures of hope and goal interference pre- and post-intervention. Feasibility was defined as ≥60% of eligible patients enrolling, ≥70% of participants completing three or more sessions, ≥70% of participants completing post-assessments, and mean acceptability ratings ≥7 out of 10 on intervention relevance, helpfulness, and convenience. Linear regression fixed effects models with covariates modeled pre-post changes in complete case analysis and multiple imputation models.

Results: Fifty two participants enrolled: female (59.6%), non-Hispanic White (84.6%), rural (75.0%), and with low educational attainment (51.9% high school degree or less). Except for enrollment (54%), feasibility and acceptability markers were surpassed (77% adherence, 77% retention, acceptability ratings ≥8/10). There was moderate improvement in hope and goal interference from pre-to post-intervention (d = 0.51, p < 0.05 for hope; d = -0.70, p < 0.005 for goal interference).

Conclusions: Strong feasibility, acceptability, and patient-reported outcome data suggest Pathways is a promising intervention to increase hope and reduce cancer-related goal interference during advanced lung cancer treatment.

Keywords: cancer; goal setting; goals; hope; lung neoplasms; oncology; psychosocial intervention.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Authors have no relevant disclosures.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
CONSORT diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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