McCusker, J., Yaffe, M., Faria, R., Lambert, S., Li, M., Poirier-Bisson, J., . . . de Raad, M. (2018). Phase II trial of a depression self-care intervention for adult cancer survivors. European Journal of Cancer Care, 27, e12763.

Assess the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of implementing a telephone-supported
self-care intervention during an eight-week period for patients with cancer who have completed primary treatment and have moderate depressive symptoms.

Toolkit with antidepressant skills workbook, DVD on depression, and life after cancer treatment book. Eight weekly 10-15 minute telephone coaching contacts.

• N = 25   
• AGE: Mean = 52 years
• MALES: 22%  
• FEMALES: 78%
• CURRENT TREATMENT: Not applicable
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Majority 1-2 years after diagnosis; variety of cancer diagnoses including breast, gynecologic, blood, prostate, colon, and brain

• SITE: Multi-site   
• SETTING TYPE: Outpatient    
• LOCATION: Montreal, Canada

PHASE OF CARE: Late effects and survivorship

Phase II Intervention-only study

PHQ-9 depression scale at baseline and at two-month follow-up.

The mean severity of PHQ-9 depression decreased significantly from screening to two months.

Promising intervention consisting of weekly coaching and self-intervention including antidepressant skills workbook and DVD training that significantly decreased depression in cancer survivors.

• Small sample (< 30)
• Risk of bias (no control group)
• Unintended interventions or applicable interventions not described that would influence results

The PHQ-9 depression scale is a simple tool that oncology nurses can use in the clinical setting to assess for depressive symptoms in patients with cancer. Identification of patients with high depression scores can benefit from additional interventions, such as skills training and coaching by nurses, to facilitate self-care in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life as a cancer survivor.