Skip to main content

A feasibility study of the Mini-AFTER telephone intervention for the management of fear of recurrence in breast cancer survivors: a mixed-methods study protocol

An Erratum to this article was published on 24 October 2017

This article has been updated

Abstract

Background

Fear of recurrence (FoR) is a major concern for patients following treatment for primary breast cancer, affecting 60–99% of breast cancer survivors. Mini-AFTER is a brief intervention developed to address this fear, that breast care nurses are ideally placed to deliver. However, their interest in delivering such an intervention is unknown and crucial to its introduction. This study aims to assess the perceived feasibility of the Mini-AFTER telephone intervention for implementation by breast care nurses to manage moderate levels of fear of recurrence among breast cancer survivors.

Methods

A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design will be used, informed by normalisation process theory (NPT). The design will be guided by the stages of NPT. Specifically, understanding and evaluating the process (implementation) that would enable an intervention, such as the Mini-AFTER, not only to be operationalised and normalised into everyday work (embedded) but also sustained in practice (integration). Phase 1: all members on the UK Breast Cancer Care Nursing Network database (n = 905) will be emailed a link to a web-based survey, designed to investigate how breast cancer survivors’ FoR is identified and managed within current services and their willingness to deliver the Mini-AFTER. Phase 2: a purposive sample of respondents (n = 20) will be interviewed to build upon the responses in phase 1 and explore breast care nurses’ individual views on the importance of addressing fear of recurrence in their clinical consultations, interest in the Mini-AFTER intervention, the content, skills required and challenges to deliver the intervention.

Discussion

This study will provide information about the willingness of breast care nurses (BCNs) to provide a structured intervention to manage fear of recurrence. It will identify barriers and facilitators for effective delivery and inform the future design of a larger trial of the Mini-AFTER intervention.

Peer Review reports

Background

Despite continued reductions in breast cancer mortality, 60–99% of individuals treated for breast cancer live with an ongoing fear that the cancer will recur [1,2,3,4,5], and for which many seek help from health professionals. Fear of recurrence (FoR) is rated as one of the top-ranking concerns in breast cancer patients attending out-patient clinics with 62% wishing to discuss this issue with their clinician [6]. FoR may be exacerbated once treatment is complete and can significantly increase healthcare encounters as survivors seek reassurance in distinguishing between recurrence and treatment-related bodily changes [7]. FoR can be understood as a natural response to a cancer diagnosis, experienced on a continuum from none to very high. However, when severe, it can lead to distress, difficulty in coping and is a predictor of poorer physical health [8]. Prior work suggests health professionals lack skills and/or confidence to adequately recognise or address fears of breast cancer returning or progressing [1].

The Ottawa Fear of Recurrence Colloquium issued a Delphi study-derived definition of FoR as ‘fear, worry, or concern about the cancer returning or progressing’ ([9], p.3267). High levels of FoR are characterised by excessive checking, overvigilance, frequent intrusive thoughts, poor sleep and anxiety [10], and can compromise quality of life for several years following diagnosis and treatment [4, 11,12,13]. Individuals experiencing this level of FoR may require intensive specialist psychological support [14]. Humphris et al. developed the AFTER intervention for cancer patients with high levels of FoR [10, 15]. The AFTER intervention is based on Leventhal’s Self-Regulation Model which proposes that fears of illness are triggered by sensations which people interpret as symptoms [16, 17]. The acronym AFTER represents A = Assessment, F = Family, T = Thoughts and feelings, E = Examination and self-care and R = Returning of cancer and review. The fear of recurrence 4-item scale (FCR4) was used to determine the level of fear (score min 4 and max 20). Three items refer to different aspects of anxiety and worry about the cancer returning and the fourth item invites a rating of frequency of ‘waves of strong feelings about the cancer coming back’: a score of 10 on this scale approximates to the 60th percentile and is defined as moderate FoR; a score of 15 approximates to the 90th percentile and equates to a high level of FoR [10, 15]. The AFTER intervention is a manual-based psychological treatment and comprises six face-to-face sessions. Delivery is conducted by a suitably trained psychologist or specialist cancer nurse. It has been shown to benefit people with cancer such as head and neck [10, 18]. It is generally accepted that early assessment and brief structured intervention has the potential to prevent symptoms of FoR worsening and to improve QoL [19]. Evidence also suggests that cost savings could be made if high FoR is effectively treated, because patients with high FoR use more services or present later for tests to identify recurrence [19, 20]. Hence, this focus on intervening earlier, when FoR is at a moderate level, has led to the development of a less intensive version of the AFTER intervention, the Mini-AFTER intervention [21]. The reasoning for developing a brief version of the AFTER intervention was based upon the following premises. First, a preventive philosophy was considered beneficial, that is to intervene prior to FoR rising to a high level. Second, this preventative approach is strengthened by better understanding by health professionals of the impact of FoR on the individual with cancer when it reaches high levels. Third, BCNs are already working within all teams involved in breast cancer treatment and follow-up, making them well placed to deliver an intervention, and finally, the offer of a brief intervention fits into a stepped-care service approach which adopts a FoR trajectory model, i.e. not a simple one-off screen ‘test’ for FoR but rather a series of interventions. This approach is supported by recent evidence from the Netherlands on providing a stepped-care approach to FoR [22].

The Mini-AFTER intervention has been developed specifically to reduce moderate FoR in breast cancer survivors and is a single 30-min structured phone call designed to be made by BCN. It covers four key aspects associated with FoR: (1) ascertaining its significance and impact on cancer survivors’ lives; (2) the nature of the symptom(s); (3) triggers of FoR following treatment; (4) identifying potential confidantes among family or friends, and/or if there are difficulties discussing FoR. Fear is legitimised by acknowledging these responses and discussing ways they can be managed through relaxation procedures, normalising fears/beliefs, setting goals to reduce self-checking and seeking professional explanation and reassurance over unexplained symptoms. The intervention has also been shown to significantly reduce FoR [12, 23].

BCNs are highly skilled nurses who routinely provide emotional and psychological support to those with breast cancer [24] and were identified in the early development of the Mini-AFTER as being best placed to deliver the intervention [10]. Several studies have shown that nurse-led telephone interventions for breast cancer follow-up are feasible to deliver and they are associated with improved overall QoL. None, however, have specifically focused on FoR as a major concern [25,26,27,28,29]. The ability and confidence of BCNs to deal with this complex issue are key to successful delivery of the Mini-AFTER. However, it is unclear how ready and willing BCNs might be to deliver this kind of brief intervention. Given the emotionally laden nature of this particular problem and the concerns that health professionals have about addressing this need, it is not clear whether BCNs would be prepared to undertake this role, or what kind of training might enable them to feel confident to deal with any problems that may arise. There is a need, therefore, to understand if, and how, breast cancer patients’ fears are currently assessed and managed in practice, and what factors might contribute to the successful implementation of the Mini-AFTER intervention. This is a particularly important element of feasibility testing before moving to a pilot study of this intervention.

This protocol outlines a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study, designed to assess the acceptability and deliverability of a brief telephone intervention (Mini-AFTER) for the management of moderate fear of recurrence (FoR) in breast cancer survivors based on the views of BCNs. The findings from this study will inform the design of a larger trial of the Mini-AFTER intervention.

Aims of study

The aim of this study is to determine the acceptability of BCNs implementing the Mini-AFTER intervention to identify and manage moderate levels of FoR among breast cancer survivors. The study objectives are:

  1. 1.

    To capture current approaches used by BCNs to identify and manage FoR

  2. 2.

    To understand the challenges and barriers for BCNs in assessing and managing FoR

  3. 3.

    To explore any BCNs perceived challenges and barriers to implementing the Mini-AFTER intervention

  4. 4.

    To understand what would enable BCNs to successfully implement the Mini-AFTER intervention in practice

Methods

A mixed-methods sequential explanatory study has been designed [30], involving the collection of data in two consecutive phases (Table 1, adapted from Ivankova et al. [31]). In the first phase, using a survey, quantitative data will be collected and analysed to understand how BCNs identify and address their patients’ FoR currently and if there are any barriers to doing this in clinical practice (objectives 1 and 2). The researchers will review the results from phase 1 before proceeding to phase 2 and will build upon and elaborate further on areas of importance to the overall study. An example of how the researchers intend to do this will be to run an association (as part of the statistical analysis) between the scale values for the question ‘I always raise a discussion on FoR vs. I only discuss FoR if the patient raises it’ question with the question ‘Would you be interested in delivering the Mini-AFTER intervention in a future study?’ The interview schedule will include an area of questioning that can explore this further: i.e. explore BCNs’ individual views on the importance of addressing FoR in their clinical consultations, interest in the Mini-AFTER intervention, the content, skills required and challenges to deliver the intervention, ensuring objectives 3 and 4 are also fully addressed. Demographic data from the survey will guide the formation of the sample for the second phase of qualitative interviews.

Table 1 Flowchart of the mixed-methods sequential explanatory design

Normalisation process theory (NPT) will be used in this study to provide a conceptual framework for this work [32]. NPT seeks to identify the component parts for understanding and evaluating the process (implementation) that would enable an intervention, such as the Mini-AFTER, not only to be operationalised and normalised into everyday work (embedded), but also sustained in practice (integration) [33]. This theoretical approach focuses on the work of the individual (in this study the BCN) and the group (supporting influence of the wider team) to enable an intervention to be normalised. NPT comprises of four main components (1) coherence (or sense-making); (2) cognitive participation (or engagement); (3) collective action (work done to enable the intervention to happen); and (4) reflexive monitoring (formal and informal appraisal of the benefits and costs of the intervention). The dynamic relationship between these components is influenced by the wider context of the intervention, e.g. organisational context, structures, social norms, group processes, barriers, challenges and conventions. Table 2 describes the four main NPT components in more detail, maps the type of questions/topic areas that will be explored against the framework and answer the objectives of the overall study. Examples of how these topics translated into the survey and/or interview questions are illustrated. These results will determine the next steps, and if a pilot RCT is indicated. If it is, it is likely to look at how study recruitment (of nurses and patients), training model, adherence to manual, patient response, and intraclass correlation (ICC) estimation would be achieved.

Table 2 Use of the normalisation process theory (NPT) topic guide for interview/survey questions

Phase 1: web-based survey

Phase 1 will address objectives 1 and 2. Responses will be collected from BCNs via a web-based survey to investigate the following feasibility domains [34]:

  • Acceptability: e.g. How helpful are formal assessment tools to assess patients for FoR?

  • Demand: e.g. What is the estimated proportion of patients who experience moderate and high levels of FoR, and how is it currently managed in practice?

  • Practicality: e.g. What support do BCNs currently receive to fulfil their role and help patients deal with psychological issues? What barriers do they encounter using assessment tools in clinical practice?

  • Adaptation: e.g. Do BCNs receiving training to deal specifically with FoR?

  • Integration: e.g. Would BCNs be interested in taking part in a training course for Mini-AFTER and what would this consist of?

The web-based survey will be conducted via the Bristol Online Survey tool [35], which is fully compliant with all UK data protection laws and is highly accessible across different organisations.

Phase 1 sampling and recruitment

The survey link and participant information sheet will be sent via email to members enrolled on Breast Cancer Care’s Nursing Network database (n = 905). Breast Cancer Care is a UK-based breast cancer charity. This organisation hosts a database of 905 health professionals working directly with people affected by breast cancer, of which 65% are BCNs. A prerequisite of joining the network is that a health professional must spend at least 50% of their time working with people affected by breast cancer. This number is consistent with data published by Macmillan Cancer Support [36,37,38,39]. With no other national register of BCNs in the UK, this route is the most direct way for the research team to access the study population. However, further steps will be taken to increase awareness among BCNs across the UK about the study through hospital networks and regional BCN groups to enhance our overall recruitment.

Eligibility criteria (being a BCN) will be detailed in the email, participant information sheet and consent page. Six weeks after the initial email, a reminder will appear in an email bulletin, circulated by Breast Cancer Care. The survey will be open for a period of 12 weeks.

Demographic data will be gathered about the age of participants, number of years working with people affected with breast cancer, number of years qualified, job banding, clinical area they align with, i.e. surgery, oncology, medical, highest level of clinical attainment, number of BCNs in the respondents’ workplace, numbers of newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer in their hospital and respondents’ place of work.

Table 3 illustrates the flow of the topics through the survey and examples of questions from each topic section. The questions were developed by the team and guided by the NPT approach illustrated in Table 2. The survey will be piloted among the research team, nurses working on the helpline at Breast Cancer Care (n = 4) and BCNs working in the NHS (n = 2) to test access and responses before it is distributed. In order to reduce bias, these nurses will be excluded from completing the survey and future studies.

Table 3 Survey structure and example questions

This study has strong patient and public representation. Patient (EB) and Breast Cancer Care (KS) representatives are co-applicant and collaborator, respectively, and involved in all substantive study matters. EB has significant experience in patient involvement with research and her insight has complemented the clinical and research expertise of the research team in shaping the study design.

To develop an audit trail, a record of the data collection process will be kept throughout the study, including the selection of the purposive sample for Phase 2.

Phase 2: qualitative interviews

Phase 2 will address objectives 3 and 4 but will also be grounded in the quantitative results from the first phase, allowing us to explore and elaborate further on areas of importance to the overall study.

Phase 2 sampling and recruitment

The final survey question will invite participants to take part in a 40-min telephone interview. Depending on the number of participants agreeing to be interviewed, and following analysis of the data from phase 1, a purposive sampling matrix will be developed. If numbers allow, two demographic factors such as age, number of years qualified, years in current post or level of educational attainment will be combined with sub-groups based on the answers to the following two key questions which may predict willingness to use the Mini-AFTER intervention:

  • How is the issue of FoR generally raised? (I always raise a discussion vs. I only discuss FoR if the patient raises it)

  • How comfortable are you discussing FoR with your patients? (Extremely comfortable vs. Not at all comfortable)

To achieve the planned matrix and reach data saturation, an overall sample size of 20 will be required.

Prior to interview, an information pack about the Mini-AFTER intervention will be sent to each selected participant. This pack will be made up of a participant information sheet re-iterating the eligibility criteria, an online presentation and extracts from the Mini-AFTER manual. Interviews will be digitally audio recorded and conducted over the phone by ES.

Interviews will explore BCNs’ views on the importance of addressing FoR in their clinical consultations, and how the Mini-AFTER intervention could be successfully integrated in practice. Phase 2 will also provide valuable information regarding the design and perceived feasibility of a future RCT, including the following domains [40]:

  • Eligibility—who (people affected by breast cancer) will participate in the trial?

  • Recruitment—how will participants be recruited into the trial?

  • Setting—where will the trial be conducted?

  • Organisation—what training and resources will be needed to deliver Mini-AFTER?

  • Delivery—how should Mini-AFTER be delivered?

Table 2 illustrates how the interviews questions will be guided by NPT and provides examples of questions for each NPT component.

Validity of interview data

To ensure a consistent interview style is used with all interview participants, ES will be the sole interviewer. Direct anonymised quotations will be used to illustrate findings in any future publications, presentations or reports. Double coding and utilisation of NVivo’s coding comparison query [41] on 25% of the transcripts will ensure consistency and rigour across the whole of the data.

Data analysis

The survey data will be collected, coded and entered into SPSS 22 [42]. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarise the sample characteristics and responses to questions. Multiple responses from the same centre will be controlled for using a clustering approach.

Descriptive analysis of cross-sectional data will be reported to understand how FoR is currently identified and addressed in breast cancer patients. Associations will be examined to investigate variation in these responses according to self-reported training level, experience and service environment. Barriers to formal assessment and systematic intervention of FoR in clinical practice will be investigated.

We will use conventional random intercept/slope regression models with continuous and binary-dependent variables using suitable procedures in STATA (xtmixed and xtmelogit). We will perform tests using these approaches to determine if a multi-level approach is required. That is, the two procedures xtmixed2 (for continuous response data) and xtmelogit2 (for categorical data response data) will provide a likelihood-ratio statistic to indicate if variance within clusters (i.e. the BCNs from the same cancer units) is significant. To estimate these multi-level models the ‘marginal likelihood’ has to be estimated using approximate methods [43]. This approach uses an adaptive quadrature procedure which enables efficient solutions to be obtained and reduced computation time. A sensitivity analysis will be performed to determine the appropriate number of integration points to obtain the most precise estimation.

Audio recordings from interviews will be transcribed verbatim, and all identifiable information will be removed from the transcripts. Framework analysis will guide the analysis of the qualitative data via a five-step process: (1) familiarisation with the data; (2) identifying a thematic framework based on emerging themes or issues in the data; (3) indexing the data in relation to specific themes; (4) charting the data based on the indexed themes; and (5) mapping and interpretation of the data to analyse the key characteristics in the charts (35). All members of the research team will be involved in at least one step in the process to ensure both researchers and lay representatives contribute their expertise at all stages of the study. However, ES, DF, SC and JA will be involved in all steps.

Coding of the data will be informed by the four main components of NPT (coherence, cognitive participation, collective action and reflexive monitoring, Table 2), but will also provide enough flexibility for any new themes that may emerge. Double coding will be employed on 25% of the transcripts to ensure any bias in the interpretation of the data is highlighted. Qualitative data will be coded and managed using NVivo 10 software [41].

Following analysis of the two sets of data, the research team will integrate the results to reflect the outcomes of the entire study. Firstly, the quantitative results will be interpreted to answer objectives 1 and 2. Secondly, the qualitative findings will enable the phase 1 data to be further clarified by explaining the statistical results and addressing detail for objectives 3 and 4. The final stage will be to discuss and group the findings from both sets of data to the NPT framework and feasibility domains to ensure the decision about how, or indeed, whether a larger trial of the Mini-AFTER intervention could be developed, ultimately leading to its implementation in practice, is achieved.

Discussion

The prevalence of FoR and the major impact it has on breast cancer survivors’ quality of life, psychological state and use of healthcare services leads to the need for interventions to be developed to support breast cancer patients with both severe and moderate levels of FoR. There are a number of interventions being designed and tested [14, 15, 44, 45]; however, there is no routinely available intervention in practice to help support people with moderate FoR following treatment for cancer. Indeed there is evidence that some health professionals are not managing the issue of FoR even when it is brought to their attention [1]. This has the potential to harm breast cancer survivors as well as contribute to an increased use of healthcare services in an attempt to seek ways to cope with their fear [7, 46]. Delivery of a nurse-led telephone intervention to address FoR could not only relieve some of the pressure on healthcare services for follow-up cancer care, but also better serve the psychological needs of breast cancer survivors.

This study has been designed to provide an overview (Phase 1) as well as an in-depth insight (Phase 2) into how FoR is currently being managed in practice, and what factors will contribute to the successful implementation of the Mini-AFTER telephone intervention. Use of NPT will inform specific aspects of the implementation of this intervention, such as whether it would promote or impede BCNs’ work, what impact it would have on their resources and how it would fit with the overall goals of their organisation/wider policy agenda. Findings will also provide information to inform the development of an RCT to test the effectiveness of the Mini-AFTER intervention.

Limitations

The study may be limited by low response rates. We are relying on BCNs opening their email from Breast Cancer Care and reading the contents. With the function of automatic sifting of email, we may find that some BCNs are not contacted through this route. The use of reminders may mitigate against this. Another limitation is that we are accessing BCNs through a single route rather than directly through their organisations. Although the Breast Cancer Care Nursing Network is the most comprehensive database of BCNs working in the UK, and the most comprehensive route to accessing BCNs across the country, the research team will raise awareness of the work among BCN through hospital and regional BCN networks.

Change history

  • 24 October 2017

    A correction to this article has been published.

Abbreviations

BCN:

Breast care nurse

FoR:

Fear of recurrence

RCT:

Randomised control trial

References

  1. Cruickshank S. The effectiveness of an intervention by specialist breast care nurses to address the perceived needs and enhance the quality of life of women with breast cancer receiving follow-up care: a randomised controlled trial. Edinburgh Napier University, 2014. Available from http://www.napier.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/research-search/outputs/the-effectiveness-of-anintervention-by-specialist-breast-care-nurses-to-address-the. Accessed 30 June 2017.

  2. Montel S. Fear of recurrence: a case report of a woman breast cancer survivor with GAD treated successfully by CBT. Clin Psychol Psychother. 2010;17:346–53.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group. Effect of radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery on 10-year recurrence and 15-year breast cancer death: meta-analysis of individual patient data for 10 801 women in 17 randomised trials. The Lancet. 2011;378:1707–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. van den Beuken-van Everdingen MH, Peters ML, de Rijke J, Schouten HC, van Kleef M, Patijn J. Concerns of former breast cancer patients about disease recurrence: a validation and prevalence study. Psychooncology. 2008.

  5. Adams E, McCann L, Armes J, Richardson A, Stark D, Watson E, Hubbard G. The experiences, needs and concerns of younger women with breast cancer: a meta‐ethnography. Psychooncology. 2011;20:851–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kanatas A, Lowe D, Velikova G, Roe B, Horgan K, Shaw RJ, Rogers SN. Issues patients would like to discuss at their review consultation in breast cancer clinics—a cross-sectional survey. Tumori. 2014;100:568–79.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Lebel S, Tomei C, Feldstain A, Beattie S, McCallum M. Does fear of cancer recurrence predict cancer survivors' health care use? Support Care Cancer. 2013;21:901–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Dunn LB, Langford DJ, Paul SM, Berman MB, Shumay DM, Kober K, Merriman JD, West C, Neuhaus JM, Miaskowski C. Trajectories of fear of recurrence in women with breast cancer. Support Care Cancer. 2015;23:2033–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Lebel S, Ozakinci G, Humphris G, Mutsaers B, Thewes B, Prins J, Dinkel A, Butow P. From normal response to clinical problem: definition and clinical features of fear of cancer recurrence. Support Care Cancer. 2016;24:3265–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Humphris G, Rogers S. AFTER and beyond: Cancer recurrence fears and a test of an intervention in oral and oropharyngeal patients. Social Science and Dentistry. 2012;2:29–38.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kornblith AB, Powell M, Regan MM, Bennett S, Krasner C, Moy B, Younger J, Goodman A, Berkowitz R, Winer E. Long‐term psychosocial adjustment of older vs younger survivors of breast and endometrial cancer. Psychooncology. 2007;16:895–903.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Simard S, Thewes B, Humphris G, Dixon M, Hayden C, Mireskandari S, Ozakinci G. Fear of cancer recurrence in adult cancer survivors: a systematic review of quantitative studies. J Cancer Surviv. 2013;7:300–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Koch L, Jansen L, Brenner H, Arndt V. Fear of recurrence and disease progression in long‐term (≥5 years) cancer survivors—a systematic review of quantitative studies. Psychooncology. 2013;22:1–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Butow PN, Bell ML, Smith AB, Fardell JE, Thewes B, Turner J, Gilchrist J, Beith J, Girgis A, Sharpe L. Conquer fear: protocol of a randomised controlled trial of a psychological intervention to reduce fear of cancer recurrence. BMC Cancer. 2013;13:1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Humphris G, Ozakinci G. The AFTER intervention: a structured psychological approach to reduce fears of recurrence in patients with head and neck cancer. Br J Health Psychol. 2008;13:223–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Leventhal B, Shearer P. Recognizing and managing the late effects of cancer treatment. Oncology (Williston Park). 1989;3:73.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Lee‐Jones C, Humphris G, Dixon R, Bebbington Hatcher M. Fear of cancer recurrence—a literature review and proposed cognitive formulation to explain exacerbation of recurrence fears. Psychooncology. 1997;6:95–105.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Van der Meulen I, May A, de Leeuw J, Koole R, Oosterom M, Hordijk G, Ros W. Long-term effect of a nurse-led psychosocial intervention on health-related quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Cancer. 2014;110:593–601.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Beaver K, Luker KA. Follow‐up in breast cancer clinics: reassuring for patients rather than detecting recurrence. Psychooncology. 2005;14:94–101.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Montgomery DA, Krupa K, Wilson C, Cooke T. Patients’ expectations for follow-up in breast cancer—a preliminary, questionnaire-based study. The Breast. 2008;17:347–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Davidson J, Malloch M, Humphris G. A single session intervention (the Mini AFTER) for fear of cancer recurrence: a feasibility study. Submitted. 2017.

  22. Völker C, van der Lee M, Pet A. De angst voor terugkeer van kanker. GZ - Psychologie. 2011;3:30–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Koch L, Bertram H, Eberle A, Holleczek B, Schmid‐Höpfner S, Waldmann A, Zeissig SR, Brenner H, Arndt V. Fear of recurrence in long‐term breast cancer survivors—still an issue. Results on prevalence, determinants, and the association with quality of life and depression from the Cancer Survivorship—a multi‐regional population‐based study. Psychooncology. 2014;23:547–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Cruickshank S, Kennedy C, Lockhart K, Dosser I, Dallas L. Specialist breast care nurses for supportive care of women with breast cancer. Cochrane Libr. 2008.

  25. Beaver K, Tysver-Robinson D, Campbell M, Twomey M, Williamson S, Hindley A, Susnerwala S, Dunn G, Luker K. Comparing hospital and telephone follow-up after treatment for breast cancer: randomised equivalence trial. BMJ. 2009;338:a3147.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Kimman ML, Bloebaum MM, Dirksen CD, Houben RM, Lambin P, Boersma LJ. Patient satisfaction with nurse-led telephone follow-up after curative treatment for breast cancer. BMC Cancer. 2010;10:1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Beaver K, Twomey M, Witham G, Foy S, Luker KA. Meeting the information needs of women with breast cancer: piloting a nurse-led intervention. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2006;10:378–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Lewis R, Neal RD, Williams NH, France B, Wilkinson C, Hendry M, Russell D, Russell I, Hughes DA, Stuart. Nurse‐led vs. conventional physician‐led follow‐up for patients with cancer: systematic review. J Adv Nurs. 2009;65:706–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Beaver K, Williamson S, Chalmers K. Telephone follow‐up after treatment for breast cancer: views and experiences of patients and specialist breast care nurses. J Clin Nurs. 2010;19:2916–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Creswell JW, Clark VLP. Designing and conducting mixed methods research. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Ivankova NV, Creswell JW, Stick SL. Using mixed-methods sequential explanatory design: from theory to practice. Field Methods. 2006;18:3–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. May CR, Mair F, Finch T, MacFarlane A, Dowrick C, Treweek S, Rapley T, Ballini L, Ong BN, Rogers A. Development of a theory of implementation and integration: normalization process theory. Implementation Science. 2009;4:29.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Murray E, Treweek S, Pope C, MacFarlane A, Ballini L, Dowrick C, Finch T, Kennedy A, Mair F, O'Donnell C. Normalisation process theory: a framework for developing, evaluating and implementing complex interventions. BMC Med. 2010;8:1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Bowen DJ, Kreuter M, Spring B, Cofta-Woerpel L, Linnan L, Weiner D, Bakken S, Kaplan CP, Squiers L, Fabrizio C, Fernandez M. How we design feasibility studies. Am J Prev Med. 2009;36:452–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Bristol Online Survey. https://www.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/. Accessed 1 Aug 2016.

  36. Macmillan Cancer Support. Specialist adult cancer nurses in Northern Ireland: a census of the specialist adult cancer nursing workforce in the UK, 2014. 2014.

  37. Macmillan Cancer Support. Specialist adult cancer nurses in England: a census of the specialist adult cancer nursing workforce in the UK, 2014. 2014.

  38. Macmillan Cancer Support. Specialist adult cancer nurses in Wales: a census of the specialist adult cancer nursing workforce in the UK, 2014. 2014.

  39. Macmillan Cancer Support. Specialist adult cancer nurses in Scotland: a census of the specialist adult cancer nursing workforce in the UK, 2014. 2014.

  40. Loudon K, Treweek S, Sullivan F, Donnan P, Thorpe KE, Zwarenstein M. The PRECIS-2 tool: designing trials that are fit for purpose. BMJ : British Medical Journal. 2015;350.

  41. International Pty Ltd QSR. NVivo qualitative data analysis software. 10th ed. 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Corp IBM. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows. 22nd ed. Armonk: IBM Corp.; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Rabe-Hesketh S, Skrondal A. Multilevel and longitudinal modelling using Stata. 3rd ed. College Station, Texas: Stata Press; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  44. van de Wal MA, Gielissen MFM, Servaes P, Knoop H, Speckens AEM, Prins JB. Study protocol of the SWORD-study: a randomised controlled trial comparing combined online and face-to-face cognitive behaviour therapy versus treatment as usual in managing fear of cancer recurrence. BMC Psychology. 2015;3:12.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. van Helmondt SJ, van der Lee ML, de Vries J. Study protocol of the CAREST-trial: a randomised controlled trial on the (cost-) effectiveness of a CBT-based online self-help training for fear of cancer recurrence in women with curatively treated breast cancer. BMC Cancer. 2016;16:527.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Thewes B, Butow P, Bell ML, Beith J, Stuart-Harris R, Grossi M, Capp A, Dalley D, Committee FSA. Fear of cancer recurrence in young women with a history of early-stage breast cancer: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and association with health behaviours. Support Care Cancer. 2012;20:2651–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study is being supported by the breast cancer support charity Breast Cancer Care.

Funding

This study has been funded by the breast cancer research charity Breast Cancer Now (Ref: 2015NovSP679).

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable.

Authors’ contributions

The overall study design was formulated by SC, GH, DF, JA and EB. SC created the survey and interview topics, and all authors were involved in the development of the final questions. The manuscript was drafted by SC and ES, and all authors revised the manuscript and approved the final version.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Ethical approval has been granted by the University of Stirling’s School of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee (no: SREC 15/16; NICR 16/17). To maintain the confidentiality of the Breast Cancer Care members, their email addresses will not be available to the research team. This means email reminders will be embedded in the email bulletins rather than sent directly to members. The final survey question inviting participants to take part in a telephone interview will only request the contact details of those who provide consent. Participants who agree to take part in the interview will be free to withdraw at any stage, and if they withdraw during the interview phase of the study their data will not be included in the final analysis. Participants will not be identified in any report or publication.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Susanne Cruickshank.

Additional information

A correction to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-017-0183-2.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cruickshank, S., Steel, E., Fenlon, D. et al. A feasibility study of the Mini-AFTER telephone intervention for the management of fear of recurrence in breast cancer survivors: a mixed-methods study protocol. Pilot Feasibility Stud 4, 22 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-017-0161-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-017-0161-8

Keywords