title: Effects of a psycho-educational programme on health-related quality of life in patients treated for colorectal and anal cancer: A feasibility trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colorectal cancer (CRC) may have a negative impact on a person's quality of life. Psycho-educational interventions for patients with CRC are rarely studied. The purpose of this feasibility trial was to evaluate the effect of a psycho-educational programme (PEP) on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients treated for CRC and anal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with CRC and anal cancer were randomly assigned to a PEP (n = 47) or standard treatment (n = 39). The PEP included informative lectures, discussion, and reflection. HRQL was evaluated using the SF-36 at baseline and 1, 6, and 12 months after the end of the PEP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in the PEP group had significantly better Mental Health scores after 1 month and significantly better Bodily Pain scores after 6 months compared with patients who received standard care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that a PEP can have a short-term effect on the mental health and bodily pain of patients treated for CRC and anal cancer when comparing with a control group. The article discusses the methodological difficulties of evaluating an intervention such as this PEP in a clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health, Department of Surgery, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; Faculty of Medicine and Health, Centre for Health Care Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden. Electronic address: emma.ohlsson-nevo@regionorebrolan.se.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ohlsson-Nevo
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health, Centre for Health Care Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; Faculty of Medicine and Health, Department of Medicine, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ulrica
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D004644:Emotions; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012919:Social Behavior; D013548:Sweden
keywords: Cancer rehabilitation; Colorectal cancer; Health-related quality of life; Mental health; Pain; Patients; Physical health; Psychoeducational; Psychosocial; Randomized controlled study; SF-36