The CORRECT-study

Up to 35% of colorectal cancer survivors (CRCS) experience high levels of psychological distress. Interventions for distressed CRCS are scarce. Therefore, we developed a blended therapy, combining face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with online self-management activities. This enables patients to complete part of their treatment at home at their convenience and spend more time learning and practicing CBT skills to manage distress. The intervention consists of one generic module and three optional modules which are aimed at decreasing: 1) distress caused by physical consequences, 2) anxiety and fear of recurrence, 3) depressive mood. The intervention will be tailored to patients’ individual needs.

In a two-arm randomized controlled trial the efficacy of blended care will be compared to treatment as usual in reducing psychological distress and improving quality of life. Treatment will be compared with a usual care control condition. The primary outcome is general distress. The efficacy of the intervention is evaluated in a randomized controlled trial carried out in the Netherlands.

Patients will be asked to complete questionnaires at three different time points; baseline (T0, before randomization), 4 months (T1) and 7 months (T2) after randomization.

The intervention is based on cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and consists of blended therapy, a combination of face-to-face CBT with a self-management interactive website. The intervention lasts four months and compromises of five individual face-to-face sessions, supplemented by three telephone contacts. Patients will have daily access to the self-management website. The CBT protocol is directed at changing cognitions and behavior related to distress. Treatment will be individually-tailored based on the presenting problems identified during clinical assessment and and the data gathered during baseline assessment. The intervention consists of one generic module and three optional modules. Three different types of distress will be addressed in the modules: 1) distress caused by physical consequences (e.g. post-cancer fatigue, gastrointestinal problems, urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction), 2) anxiety and fear of recurrence, 3) depressive mood.