title: Acceptability of an internet cognitive behavioural therapy program for people with early-stage cancer and cancer survivors with depression and/or anxiety: thematic findings from focus groups.
abstract: We developed an eight-lesson internet-delivered CBT (iCBT) program targeting anxiety and depression in early-stage cancer and cancer survivors. To explore the acceptability of the program, we showed volunteers the first two lessons and asked for their views.
  
  
  
  Focus groups (n = 3) and individual interviews (n = 5) were undertaken with 15 participants (11 survivors) with mainly breast (11 of the 15) cancer, who had reviewed intervention materials. Participants were asked to consider the acceptability of the iCBT program content and implementation design (timing, duration). Semi-structured questions guided discussion. Thematic analysis was conducted of participant reactions to the acceptability and/or suitability of materials created for use in a psychological intervention. We took a data-driven (inductive) approach to semantic theme development across the data set.
  
  
  
  Participants reported high acceptability of the internet delivery format, good engagement and user-friendly material. Participants were broadly supportive of combining depression and anxiety iCBT resources for early-stage cancer patients and survivors. Participants further indicated that a separate course would be needed to address the needs of patients with advanced stage disease.
  
  
  
  Participants welcomed the general development of an internet-delivered CBT intervention program to treat patients with clinical depression and/or anxiety. Furthermore, the sessions reviewed were highly acceptable to all participants. Study findings informed researchers on the development of iCBT resources for the cancer community.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology Unit, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, 94 Mallett St, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karageorge
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), UNSW School of Psychiatry at St Vincent's Hospital, Level 4, O'Brien Centre, 394 Victoria Street, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia. Michael.murphy@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), UNSW School of Psychiatry at St Vincent's Hospital, Level 4, O'Brien Centre, 394 Victoria Street, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia.|School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, UNSW Australia, Mathews Building, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Newby
authors.affiliation: Nepean Cancer Care Centre, Sydney West Cancer Network, Kingswood, Sydney, NSW, 2747, Australia.|Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), Level 6, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse (C39Z), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kirsten
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), UNSW School of Psychiatry at St Vincent's Hospital, Level 4, O'Brien Centre, 394 Victoria Street, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.affiliation: Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), Level 6, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse (C39Z), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), UNSW School of Psychiatry at St Vincent's Hospital, Level 4, O'Brien Centre, 394 Victoria Street, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loughnan
authors.affiliation: Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), Level 6, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse (C39Z), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), Level 6, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse (C39Z), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), Level 6, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse (C39Z), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), UNSW School of Psychiatry at St Vincent's Hospital, Level 4, O'Brien Centre, 394 Victoria Street, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), Level 6, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse (C39Z), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Butow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Acceptability; Anxiety; Cancer; Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT); Depression; Qualitative