Table 4 FCR-related outcomes
Author, Country | FCR Instrument | FCR Variable Type | Assessment Time | Major Findings (Focused on FCR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Herschbach et al. [23], Germany | FoP-Q-SF | Outcome | Pretest (T0), posttest (T1), 3-month f/u (T2), 12-month f/u (T3) | There was a significant main effect of time and a significant interaction of group x time. FoP decreased significantly over time in both intervention groups but not in the control group. |
van de Wal et al. [24], The Netherlands | CWS | Outcome | Baseline (T0), posttest (T1) | The patients in the bCBT group reported significantly lower CWS and FCRI scores (total score, scores for severity/triggers/distress/functioning impairments) than those in the CAU group. |
FCRI: severity, psychological distress, triggers, coping strategies, functioning impairments, insight, & reassurance | Outcome | Baseline (T0), Posttest (T1) | ||
Butow et al. [26], Australia | FCRI: total | Outcome | Baseline (T0), posttest (T1), 3-month f/u (T2), 9-month f/u (T3) | The ConquerFear participants showed greater improvements in FCRI scores than the control participants. |
Lengacher et al. [27], USA | CARS: overall fear, problems | Outcome | Baseline (T0), posttest (T1), 3-month f/u (T2) | MBSR(BC) showed significant improvements in FCRs (overall and problems) than UC group at T1 and T2 periods. |
Bower et al. [37], USA | QLACS | Outcome | Baseline (T0), posttest (T1), 3-month f/u (T2) | There was no significant group x time interaction effect on FCR at post intervention but there was a significant group difference (group x time interaction) in FCR at the 3-month follow-up. |
Johns et al. [38], USA | FCRI: severity, triggers, distress, functioning impairments, insight, reassurance seeking, and coping strategies | Outcome | Baseline (T0), posttest (T1), 1-month f/u (T2), 6-month f/u (T3) | ACT was associated with significant within-group improvements in FCR severity and in the scores for all secondary FCRI subscales except for reassurance seeking and coping across time; between-group differences favored ACT over survivorship education and enhanced usual care, most obviously at T3. |
Dodds et al. [39], USA | FCRI: severity, triggers, psychological distress, functioning impairments, and insight domains | Outcome | Baseline (T0), posttest (T1), 1-month f/u (T2) | Compared to the control condition, CBCT was a feasible intervention and was highly satisfactory to BC survivors. Functioning impairments associated with FCR showed a significant changes between pre- and post intervention for the CBCT group. |
Gonzalez-Hernandez et al. [40], Spain | FCRI: triggers, psychological stress, coping strategies, and insight | Outcome | Pretest (T0), posttest (T1), f/u (T2) | Psychological stress showed a significant time x group interaction, but there were no significant interaction effects for other factors. Within-group comparisons showed significant pre-to-post and pre-to-follow-up changes in psychological stress for the CBCT group but no significant changes in the TAU group. |
Lengacher et al. [41], USA | CARS: overall fear, problems | Mediator | Pretest (T0), posttest (T1) | MBSR(BC) resulted in significant reductions in FCR and improved physical functioning which, in turn, mediated significant reductions in perceived stress and anxiety. |
Park et al. [42], Japan | CARS: overall | Outcome | Baseline (T0), posttest (T1), 3-month f/u (T2) | Compared with the control group, the MBCT group showed significant reductions in FCR over time. |
Lichtenthal et al. [43], USA | CARS: overall fear, problems (health worries, womanhood worries, role worries, and death worries) | Outcome | Pretest (T0), posttest (T1), 3-month f/u (T2) | Among the subscales, the CARS-Health worries showed a significant time x condition interaction, and there was reliable improvement in health worries from the baseline to the follow-up for the intervention (AIM-FBCR) group. |
Tomei et al. [44], Canada | FCRI: total | Outcome | Baseline (T0): control group only, pretest (T1), posttest (T2), 3-month f/u (T3) | There was a significant interaction effect on FCR: the CBT group showed greater reductions in FCR than the control group, and most changes were maintained at the 3-month follow-up. |
van Helmondt et al. [45], The Netherlands | FCRI: severity, psychological distress, coping strategies, & functioning impairments | Outcome | Baseline (T0), posttest (T1), 9-month f/u (T2) | There was no effect of CBT-based online self-help training in reducing FCR in breast cancer survivors compared with that of CAU at posttest and 9-month follow-up. |
Heinrichs et al. [46], Germany | FoP-Q-SF | Outcome | Pretest (T0), posttest (T1), 6-month f/u (T2), 12-month f/u (T3) | Patients in the CBT intervention group showed a significantly greater decline in FCR from pre- to post assessment (time x group x sex) than the control group. During long-term follow-up, patients in the control group showed a significant linear decline, while their CBT group counterparts maintained their gains. |
Shields et al. [47], USA | CARS: problems (health, womanhood, role, death, and parenting) | Outcome | Baseline (T0), posttest (T1), 1-week f/u (T2), 2-month f/u (T3) | The intervention group showed greater reductions in FCR scores than the control group over time, but the group differences were not statistically significant. |
Germino et al. [48], USA | CARS: overall | Outcome | Baseline (T0), 4~6 months postbaseline (T1), 8~10 months postbaseline (T2) | The intervention group had a larger decrease in FCR than the control group, but the result was not statistically significant. |
Merckaert et al. [49], Belgium | FCRI: triggers, severity, psychological distress, coping strategies, functioning impairments, insight, and reassurance | Outcome | Pretest (T0), posttest (T1) | Compared with patients in the control group, patients in the CBT group reported greater use of FCR-related coping strategies and greater reduction in FCR-related psychological distress. |