title: The utility of videoconferencing to provide innovative delivery of psychological treatment for rural cancer patients: results of a pilot study.
abstract: The unmet psychological needs of rural cancer patients are numerous. Telepsychology is a novel and feasible option that may provide cost-savings and help overcome inequalities in access to specialists. This is the first known study of psychological treatment for people with cancer delivered entirely via videoconferencing. We hypothesized that a telepsychology service would improve rural cancer patients' anxiety and depression levels and quality of life, and would be an acceptable, satisfactory, and practical mode of service delivery. Twenty-five cancer patients attended an average of three sessions with a clinical psychologist providing brief cognitive-behavioral therapy. Questionnaires were completed at pre-, post-, and 1-month follow-up. Patients benefited in terms of anxiety (P=0.01) and quality of life (P=0.04). The service was both practical and acceptable. These preliminary positive results provide a firm basis to conduct a randomized controlled trial of face-to-face interaction vs. videoconferencing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Whitford
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thewes
authors.forename: Viki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brummell
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hicks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019035:Rural Health Services; D017216:Telemedicine; D049269:Videoconferencing