Emotion and Symptom-focused Engagement (EASE): A randomized pilot trial of an integrated psychosocial and palliative care intervention for individuals with acute leukemia (AL).

Authors

null

Gary Rodin

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada

Gary Rodin , Carmine Malfitano , Anne Rydall , Christopher Lo , Aaron David Schimmer , Charles Marmar , Camilla Zimmermann

Organizations

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY

Research Funding

Other Foundation

Background: Individuals diagnosed with AL may experience severe physical and psychological distress due to the illness and its treatment, the threat of relapse and treatment failure, and a high risk of mortality. To alleviate psychological and physical distress in this population, we developed a novel, 8-week, manualized intervention called EASE. This includes: 1) EASE-psy- a tailored psychotherapeutic component to reduce psychological distress; and 2) EASE-phys-symptom screening, with moderate to severe physical symptoms triggering early palliative care. Methods: To assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of EASE, patients were recruited within 2 weeks of admission to a comprehensive cancer center and randomized to receive either EASE or usual care (UC). Physical and psychological symptoms were assessed at baseline, 4, 8 (primary endpoint), and 12 weeks. Intervention patients received 6-10 psychotherapy sessions over 8 weeks, weekly assessment of physical symptoms, and consultation and follow-up by palliative care, when needed. One-way ANOVA was performed to assess mean change scores over time between groups. Results: Forty-two patients were randomized to EASE (n = 22) or UC (n = 20). Predefined feasibility outcomes were all met: > 86% (19/22) of EASE participants (goal > 64%) completed > 50% of proposed EASE-psy sessions; 64% (14/22) completed symptom screenings (goal > 50%); and 100% of those with moderate to severe symptoms had > 1 meeting with the EASE-phys team (goal 100%). There were statistically significant findings favoring EASE vs. UC for satisfaction with care at 8 and 12 weeks (Δ: -3.12 vs 7.39, p < 0.04; -6.1910 vs 0.0125 p < 0.03). There were trends favoring EASE vs. UC for traumatic stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, quality of life, attachment security, and number, severity, and distress related to physical symptoms at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Conclusions: Although not powered for statistical significance, this randomized pilot trial of EASE for AL showed promising reductions in psychological and physical distress and supports the feasibility and need for a larger randomized controlled trial. Clinical trial information: NCT02353559

Disclaimer

This material on this page is ©2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology, all rights reserved. Licensing available upon request. For more information, please contact licensing@asco.org

Abstract Details

Meeting

2017 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Hematologic Malignancies—Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, and Allotransplant

Track

Hematologic Malignancies—Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, and Allotransplant

Sub Track

Acute Leukemia

Clinical Trial Registration Number

NCT02353559

Citation

J Clin Oncol 35, 2017 (suppl; abstr 7041)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2017.35.15_suppl.7041

Abstract #

7041

Poster Bd #

241

Abstract Disclosures

Similar Abstracts

First Author: Kyle Fitzgibbon

First Author: Mark Liu

Abstract

2023 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Simultaneous care clinic: A mono-institutional experience at an ESMO designated center for palliative care.

First Author: Silvia Stragliotto

First Author: Kelley Mowatt