Targeting Fear of Cancer Recurrence with Internet-Based Emotional Freedom Techniques (iEFT) and Mindfulness Meditation Intervention (iMMI) (BGOG-gyn1b/REMOTE)
Approximately one-third of cancer survivors report a need for professional help to cope with Fear of Cancer Recurrence (FCR). In the REMOTE trial, we aim to investigate the efficacy of two internet-based mind-body techniques to address this currently unmet medical need. Cancer survivors, screened using the Cancer Worry Scale (CWS), are randomly assigned to one of the three study groups: (1) internet-based emotional freedom techniques (iEFT) (<i>n</i> = 113), (2) an active control condition internet-based mindfulness meditation intervention (iMMI) (<i>n</i> = 113), or (3) a wait-list control group (WLC) (<i>n</i> = 113). The interventions iEFT and iMMI are conducted remotely using Microsoft Teams (Microsoft, Redmond, WA), and participants have access to an online platform via the MyNexuzHealth application (nexuzhealth NV, Hasselt, Belgium). The primary endpoint is the level of FCR. Secondary outcomes are emotional distress and quality of life (QoL). If iEFT and/or iMMI appear to be effective in reducing FCR, they could be readily implemented in clinical practice.
Authors
- Christine Langenaeken
- Jeroen Mebis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0579-4607)
- Laure-Anne Teuwen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1690-8198)
- Mohammad Najlah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7670-2859)
- Florence Van Ryckeghem
- Kurt Geldhof
- Katherine Vandenborre
- C. Lamot
- Thaïs Baert
- Laura Tack (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0623-0160)
- Pat Schofield (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4242-754X)
- Tom Boterberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8680-8737)
- Philip R. Debruyne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5438-9697)
- Lore Mertens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3161-7412)
- Christel Fontaine (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4524-5744)
- Evelyn Pauwels
- Heidi Van den Bulck
- Marte Vandeweyer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2145-6603)
- Fien Florin
Institutions
- AZ Groeninge (BE)
- Ghent University Hospital (BE)
- Ghent University (BE)
- AZ Klina (BE)
- Jessa Hospital (BE)
- Antwerp University Hospital (BE)
- Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (BE)
- Katholieke Hogeschool Vives (BE)
- Imelda Hospital (BE)
- Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (BE)
- AZ Sint-Blasius (BE)
- Anglia Ruskin University (GB)
- University of Plymouth (GB)
- KU Leuven (BE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Brain Sciences
- Published
- 2025-08-22
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15090900
- Primary Topic
- Cancer survivorship and care
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Pfizer
- Universiteit Gent
- Kom op tegen Kanker
- Stand Up To Cancer