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Feasibility of an ovarian cancer quality-of-life psychoeducational intervention

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Abstract

Background. Diagnosis of ovarian cancer often portends a poor prognosis with significant quality-of-life (QOL) concerns. Method. We report on a pilot study that tested the feasibility of a structured, ovarian cancer psychoeducational intervention (OCPI). Patients (N=33) were randomly assigned to either the control or OCPI study arms in which those in the intervention arm received 4 sequential, structured, in-person educational sessions. Data were collected at the time of accrual and at 1 and 3 months postaccrual. Results. This study demonstrated the feasibility of a structured psychoeducational program in an outpatient clinical setting. Conclusion. Study findings underscore the importance of developing interventions that address the 4 QOL domains impacted by ovarian cancer and support initiating a comprehensive psychoeducational intervention earlier in the course of illness.

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Correspondence to Shirley Otis-Green MSW, ACSW, LCSW, OSW-C.

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Supported by a research grant from the Oncology Nursing Foundation.

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Otis-Green, S., Ferrell, B., Sun, V. et al. Feasibility of an ovarian cancer quality-of-life psychoeducational intervention. J Canc Educ 23, 214–221 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1080/08858190802188784

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