Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37571803›Full record

ArticleIntegrative cancer therapies

Virtual Delivery of Stepped-Care Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Cancer Related Fatigue: A Feasibility Study.

Lauren K Williams, Maria Ftanou, Elizabeth J Pearson

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Integrative cancer therapies. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 27% 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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Effectiveness of eHealth interventions in long-term follow-up care for breast and gynecological cancer survivors: a systematic review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Application of stepped care model in cancer patients: a scoping review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024
    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

3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Lauren K WilliamsPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3696-0372
Maria FtanouPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC Australia.
Elizabeth J PearsonPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1606-3124
The University of Melbourne · AUPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAbout 1 in 3 people experience persistent fatigue after cancer treatment. People with severe fatigue describe a disabling lack of stamina, anxiety, depression and distressing cognitive changes. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is recommended for people with severe fatigue after cancer treatment, however due to limited resources and lack of available clinicians very few people with cancer have access. This study explored feasibility of a virtual stepped-care CBT program.

methodsEnglish speaking adults experiencing persistent fatigue who had either completed cancer treatment, or with stable disease on maintenance therapies were recruited. All participants engaged in a 6-week supported self-help program using a CBT workbook targeting fatigue (STEP 1). After the self-help program, participants with severe ongoing fatigue were stepped-up to a telehealth CBT group focused to fatigue led by a Clinical Psychologist (STEP 2). Feasibility and perceived changes were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks.

resultsOf 19 participants, 17 completed STEP 1 and 8 completed STEP 2. Remotely delivered CBT was feasible with high retention, adherence, participant feasibility and satisfaction scores. Cost to deliver STEP 1 was AUD $145 and STEP 2, AUD $280 per participant. Overall, fatigue and self-efficacy improved significantly following STEP 1. Participants with higher baseline fatigue achieved limited improvements with self-help alone, requiring guidance to set achievable goals and reframe cognitions. Fatigue, self-efficacy and mood improved with STEP 2.

conclusionsRemotely delivered CBT for cancer fatigue was feasible. The effectiveness of stratified rather than stepped CBT approach, based on fatigue severity should be trialed.

trial registrationAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN # 11 12622000420741).

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyNeoplasmsAdultAnxietyAustraliaFatigueFeasibility StudiesHumansTreatment OutcomecancerCBTcognitive behavior therapyfatiguefeasibilitypsychologicalstepped-care

Identifiers

PMID37571803
PMCPMC10422894
OpenAlexW4385778839

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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.