TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing the impact of a self-guided digital intervention for fear of cancer recurrence (iConquerFear) in ovarian cancer survivors
T2 - a pilot randomised waitlist-controlled trial
AU - Wu, Verena S.
AU - Smith, Allan ‘Ben’
AU - Russell, Hayley
AU - Bamgboje-Ayodele, Adeola
AU - Beatty, Lisa
AU - Pearce, Alison
AU - Dhillon, Haryana
AU - Shaw, Joanne
AU - Antony, Jan
AU - Fardell, Joanna
AU - Pangeni, Anupama
AU - Dixon, Cyril
AU - Rincones, Orlando
AU - Langdon, Laura
AU - Costa, Daniel
AU - Girgis, Afaf
PY - 2025/12
Y1 - 2025/12
N2 - Background: Approximately 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. Methods: Stage 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. Results: Of 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. Conclusions: iConquerFear 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.
AB - Background: Approximately 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. Methods: Stage 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. Results: Of 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. Conclusions: iConquerFear 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.
KW - eHealth
KW - Fear of cancer recurrence
KW - Fear of progression
KW - Online
KW - Ovarian cancer
KW - Self management
KW - Web-based
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105000768360&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12885-025-13639-6
DO - 10.1186/s12885-025-13639-6
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105000768360
SN - 1471-2407
VL - 25
JO - BMC Cancer
JF - BMC Cancer
IS - 1
M1 - 527
ER -
