title: RESTORE: an exploratory trial of an online intervention to enhance self-efficacy to manage problems associated with cancer-related fatigue following primary cancer treatment: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are over 25 million people worldwide living with or beyond cancer and this number is increasing. Cancer survivors face a range of problems following primary treatment. One of the most frequently reported and distressing symptoms experienced by cancer survivors is fatigue. There is growing support for survivors who are experiencing problems after cancer treatment to engage in supported self-management. To date there is some evidence of effective interventions to manage fatigue in this population; however, to our knowledge there are no online resources that draw on this information to support self-management of fatigue. This paper describes the protocol for an exploratory randomized controlled trial of an online intervention to support self-management of cancer-related fatigue after primary cancer treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a parallel-group two-armed (1:1) exploratory randomized controlled trial including 125 cancer survivors experiencing fatigue (scoring ≥4 on a unidimensional 11-point numeric rating scale for fatigue intensity) within five years of primary treatment completion with curative intent. Participants will be recruited from 13 NHS Trusts across the UK and randomized to either the online intervention (RESTORE), or a leaflet comparator (Macmillan Cancer Backup, Coping with Fatigue). The primary outcome is a change in Perceived Self-Efficacy for Fatigue Self-Management (as measured by the Perceived Self-Efficacy for Fatigue Self-Management Instrument). Secondary outcomes include impact on perception and experience of fatigue (measured by the Brief Fatigue Inventory), and quality of life (measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General and the Personal Wellbeing Index). Outcome measures will be collected at baseline, 6 weeks (completion of intervention), and 3 months. Process evaluation (including telephone interviews with recruiting staff and participants) will determine acceptability of the intervention and trial processes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from this trial will be used to refine the intervention and contribute to the design of an effectiveness trial. This intervention will be expanded to address other cancer-related problems important to cancer survivors following primary cancer treatment.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN67521059.
authors.affiliation: Macmillan Survivorship Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
authors.forename: Chloe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grimmett
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Armes
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Breckons
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calman
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corner
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fenlon
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hulme
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Carl R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ream
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Peter W F
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yardley
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D010465:Perception; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013222:State Medicine; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom