Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40122804›Full record

Trial reportBMC cancer2025

Assessing the impact of a self-guided digital intervention for fear of cancer recurrence (iConquerFear) in ovarian cancer survivors: a pilot randomised waitlist-controlled trial.

Verena S Wu, Allan 'Ben' Smith, Hayley Russell, Adeola Bamgboje-Ayodele, Lisa Beatty, Alison Pearce, Haryana Dhillon, Joanne Shaw, Jan Antony, Joanna Fardell and 6 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  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. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
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.

Verena S WuThe Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, A Joint Venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Allan 'Ben' SmithThe Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, A Joint Venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia. ben.a.smith@sydney.edu.au.
Hayley RussellOvarian Cancer Australia, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Adeola Bamgboje-AyodeleBiomedical Informatics and Digital Health, School of Medical Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Lisa BeattyCollege of Education, Psychology, and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Alison PearceThe Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, A Joint Venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Haryana DhillonPsycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Joanne ShawPsycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Jan AntonyOvarian Cancer Australia, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Joanna FardellDiscipline of Paediatrics & Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Anupama PangeniSouth West Sydney Clinical Campuses, UNSW Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Cyril DixonOvarian Cancer Australia, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Orlando RinconesSouth West Sydney Clinical Campuses, UNSW Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Laura LangdonOvarian Cancer Australia, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Daniel CostaSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Science, the University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Afaf GirgisSouth West Sydney Clinical Campuses, UNSW Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Funding

Cancer Institute NSW 2021/CBG003Cancer Institute NSW 2021/CDF1138
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundApproximately 50% of ovarian cancer (OC) survivors report fear of cancer recurrence/progression (FCR/P) as the most challenging aspect of living with cancer. This pilot, randomised waitlist-controlled trial aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of iConquerFear, a self-guided online FCR intervention for OC survivors.

methodsStage I-III OC survivors were recruited via Ovarian Cancer Australia (OCA) between October-December 2022. Participants were randomised to access iConquerFear immediately (intervention) or after 8 weeks (waitlist-control). Primary outcomes were feasibility, acceptability, and safety. Secondary outcomes included: engagement barriers/enablers, perceived impact of iConquerFear, and suggested improvements via semi-structured interviews. Exploratory outcomes included group differences in FCR and FoP after iConquerFear use.

resultsOf 62 eligible survivors, 55 (61%) were randomised (intervention n = 29; control n = 26). At baseline 55% (30/55) reported severe FCR (FCRI-SF ≥ 22). Of those randomised, 51% (n = 28) accessed iConquerFear; 16/28 (57%) users completed ≥ 3/5 modules. Mean post-intervention acceptability score (IEUQ) was 3/4 (SD = 0.8). Three (11%) users withdrew due to distress from iConquerFear. Qualitative interviews (n = 13) identified 6 key themes (e.g., participant factors influencing engagement). Differences between intervention and control group changes in FCR/P were non-significant.

conclusionsiConquerFear does not appear appropriate for OC survivors in its current format due to limited engagement, varied acceptability, safety concerns and minimal group differences in FCR/P after iConquerFear use. More work is needed regarding how to augment online interventions addressing sensitive issues such as FCR/P in OC survivors (e.g., offering complementary in-person support) to ensure feasibility, acceptability and safety.

trial registrationThis trial is registered with ANZCTR.org (ACTRN12622000592741p) on 21 April 2022.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsFearNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalOvarian NeoplasmsAdultAgedFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMiddle AgedPilot ProjectseHealthFear of cancer recurrenceFear of progressionOnlineOvarian cancerSelf managementWeb-based

Identifiers

PMID40122804
PMCPMC11929991

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.