A randomized psychosocial intervention study on the effect of home visits on the well-being of Danish colorectal cancer patients--the INCA Project.
Home visits by health care professionals may constitute a formalized social relationship in which cancer patients can be given emotional and informational support. We aimed at studying the effect of home visits on the well-being of colorectal cancer patients. A total of 249 Danish colorectal cancer patients undergoing abdominal surgery were randomly assigned to a control group or to an intervention group. The intervention group received 10 home visits carried out by a project nurse or a medical doctor during the first 2 years after discharge. Participants were interviewed 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after discharge in order to assess well-being. Using a linear mixed model, we found no overall effect of the intervention on well-being. We recommend that future psychosocial intervention studies include baseline screening for distress and recommend testing the effect of shorter but intensive interventions carried out by trained therapists.
Ross
Lone
L
Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Strandboulevarden 49, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. ross@cancer.dk
Thomsen
Birthe L
BL
Karlsen
Randi V
RV
Boesen
Ellen H
EH
Johansen
Christoffer
C
D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006792:House Calls; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D019555:Physician-Nurse Relations; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological