Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36566189›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2022

Finding My Way-Advanced: can a web-based psychosocial intervention improve the mental quality of life for women with metastatic breast cancer vs attention-control? Study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

Lisa Beatty, Emma Kemp, Phyllis Butow, Afaf Girgis, Nicholas Hulbert-Williams, Billingsley Kaambwa, Penelope Schofield, Jane Turner, Richard Woodman, Frances Boyle and 6 more

Open access · goldAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC cancer, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 25% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. A qualitative exploration of factors that influence engagement with a digital mental health intervention for women with metastatic breast cancer: Finding My Way-Advanced.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Trial
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors at 9 institutions in 2 countries.

Lisa BeattyFlinders University, Adelaide, Australia. lisa.beatty@flinders.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8847-8452
Emma KempFlinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Phyllis ButowUniversity of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Afaf GirgisUniversity of NSW, Sydney, Australia.
Nicholas Hulbert-WilliamsEdge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK.
Billingsley KaambwaFlinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Penelope SchofieldSwinburne University, Melbourne, Australia.
Jane TurnerUniversity of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.
Richard WoodmanFlinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Frances BoyleMater, Sydney, Australia.
Anthony DalyCancer Council South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
Amanda JonesSouthern Adelaide Local Health Network, Bedford Park, Australia.
Belinda KielyMacarthur Cancer Therapy Centre, Campbelltown Hospital, Campbelltown, Australia.
Nicholas ZdenkowskiUniversity of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
FMW-A Authorship Group
Bogda KoczwaraFlinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Flinders University · AUWomen's and Children's Health Network · AUCamden and Campbelltown Hospitals · AUEdge Hill University · GBMater Health Services · AUPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre · AUThe University of Queensland · AUThe University of Sydney · AUUniversity of Newcastle Australia · AU

Funding

Cancer Australia 2000514
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWomen living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) are at risk of significantly impaired quality of life (QOL), symptom burden, distress and fear of progression, and unmet needs, yet they face barriers to accessing evidence-based psychosocial treatments. Our group therefore developed Finding My Way-Advanced (FMW-A), a web-based self-guided psychosocial program for women with MBC. This study aims to assess its efficacy in improving mental and other QOL domains, distress, fear of progression, unmet needs, and health service utilisation.

methodsThe multi-site randomised controlled trial (RCT) will enrol 370 Australian participants. Eligible participants are adult (18 years +) women diagnosed with MBC, with a life expectancy of 6 months or more, with sufficient English-language literacy to provide informed consent. Participants will be identified, screened and referred from one of 10 Australian sites, or via self-referral in response to advertisements. Participants complete four online questionnaires: prior to accessing their program ('baseline'), 6 weeks later ('post-intervention'), then 3 months and 6 months post-intervention. Consenting participants will be randomised to either FMW-A (intervention), or Breast Cancer Network Australia's (BCNA) online/app resource My Journey (minimal intervention attention-control). This is a single-blind study, with randomisation computer-generated and stratified by site. FMW-A is a 6-module program addressing some of the most common issues experienced by women with MBC, with BCNA control resources integrated within the 'resources' section. All modules are immediately accessible, with an additional booster module released 10 weeks later. The primary outcome is mental QOL; statistical criteria for superiority is defined as a 4-point difference between groups at post-treatment. Secondary outcomes include other QOL domains, distress, fear of progression, health service use, intervention adherence, and user satisfaction. DISCUSSION: This will be the first adequately powered RCT of a self-directed online intervention for women with MBC. If efficacious, FMW-A will help address two national key priorities for management of MBC - enhancing QOL and reducing symptom burden. FMW-A has the potential to address unmet needs and overcome access barriers for this overlooked population, while reducing health system burden.

trial registrationThe study was registered prospectively with the ANZCTR on 29/10/2021. Trial ID ACTRN12621001482853p.  https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=382714&isReview=true.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsInternet-Based InterventionAdultAustraliaFemaleHumansPsychosocial InterventionQuality of LifeRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicCBTDigital healthDistressInterventionMetastatic breast cancerPsycho-oncologyQOLRCT

Identifiers

PMID36566189
PMCPMC9789659
OpenAlexW4312118140

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.