A psychoeducational intervention program for cervical cancer: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Patients with cervical cancer (CC) have heavy physical and mental burden and have been found to have worse quality of life (QoL). Supportive care for patients with CC is usually completed by general nurses during hospitalization and provides only basic psychological comfort, which is not satisfactory. Methods: Women diagnosed with cervical cancer who were about to undergo surgery were randomly assigned to the control or intervention groups. The control group received routine health education and psychological nursing measures, while the intervention group received a psychoeducational intervention program. The psychoeducational intervention program included a five-session, 24-week full-course group psychoeducational therapy and WeChat instruction. Patients with cervical cancer were assessed with standardized questionnaires, including the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), Cervical Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-CX24), Chinese version of Mishel’s Uncertainty in Illness Scale (C-MUIS), and Chinese version of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS-CM). All data were collected at baseline and post-intervention. Results: Patients who received the psychoeducational intervention program reported better physical functioning (p < 0.001), social functioning (p = 0.016) and global health status (p = 0.018), and they felt a lower financial burden (p < 0.001), as measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30. They felt better about their body image (p = 0.030) and had fewer lymphedema and other symptoms (p = 0.024) (p = 0.001) on the EORTC QLQ-CX24. They reported significantly greater reductions in the ambiguity, inconsistency and unpredictability subscales and overall illness uncertainty than the control group, as measured by the C-MUIS (p < 0.005). They perceived better tangible support, affectionate support and positive social interaction as measured by the MOS-SSS-CM (p < 0.005). Conclusions: The psychoeducational intervention program is feasible with potentially benefiting effects for patients with cervical cancer. Multicenter studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are warranted to confirm the results. Clinical Trial Registration: ChiCTR2500106354.