title: Evaluating the efficacy of a self-guided Web-based CBT intervention for reducing cancer-distress: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the efficacy of a self-guided Web-based cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) intervention compared to an attention control in improving cancer-related distress, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and maladaptive coping, among people recently diagnosed with cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty individuals with cancer diagnosed in the previous 6 months and receiving treatment with curative intent were randomised to receive either the 6-week intervention Cancer Coping Online (CCO: n = 30) or the 6-week Web-based attention control (n = 30). Outcome measures, including cancer distress (the Posttraumatic Stress Scale - Self-Report), general distress (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale), quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30), and coping (mini-MAC), were administered at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3 and 6 months post-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant main effects for time were found for cancer distress, global QOL, physical function, role function, social function, and anxious preoccupation. Post hoc between-group comparisons showed CCO participants had statistically significantly higher physical functioning compared to controls at 3 months of follow-up (d = -0.52, p = 0.02). Furthermore, compared to controls, post hoc comparisons found moderate between-group effect sizes favouring CCO post-intervention for cancer distress (d = 0.43) and anxious preoccupation (d = 0.38), and at 6 months of follow-up for global QOL (d = -0.43).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provide preliminary support for the potential efficacy of a self-guided Web-based CBT programme in improving aspects of HRQOL, cancer-related distress, and anxious preoccupation after cancer diagnosis. This paper provides justification for, and will help inform the development of, subsequent larger multi-site studies.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Flinders University, GPO Box. 2100, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia. lisa.beatty@flinders.edu.au.|Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. lisa.beatty@flinders.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beatty
authors.affiliation: Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Bogda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koczwara
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Flinders University, GPO Box. 2100, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia.
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wade
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology
keywords: CBT; Distress; Internet; Intervention; Self-guided