The effect of clinician-expressed empathy and nocebo-alleviating information on breast-cancer-patients' anxiety and side effects during active chemotherapy: A clinical feasibility study
Objective: We set up a pilot-study to investigate main and interaction effects of nocebo-alleviating information and clinician-expressed empathy delivered via a standardized information-video on breast cancer patients' psychological and side effect outcomes during chemotherapy. Additionally, we...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | PEC Innovation |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772628225000020 |
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| author | Lara C. Gröschel Fiona T. Brosig Marcel Soesan Katherina T. Vourtsis Mirte van der Spek Elise Sluiter Liesbeth M. van Vliet |
| author_facet | Lara C. Gröschel Fiona T. Brosig Marcel Soesan Katherina T. Vourtsis Mirte van der Spek Elise Sluiter Liesbeth M. van Vliet |
| author_sort | Lara C. Gröschel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: We set up a pilot-study to investigate main and interaction effects of nocebo-alleviating information and clinician-expressed empathy delivered via a standardized information-video on breast cancer patients' psychological and side effect outcomes during chemotherapy. Additionally, we aimed to reflect on the feasibility of the intervention (acceptability, practicality and integration) to inform future – follow-up – studies. Methods: Using a clinical proof-of-principle randomized controlled trial, female breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy viewed one of four videos, varying in the level of nocebo-alleviating information(+/−) and clinician-expressed empathy(+/−). Due to the small sample size (n = 27), descriptive and recruitment data were utilized to evaluate effects and reflect on feasibility. Results: The interventions appeared to yield limited effects on our small sample. Feasibility reflections mainly focused on the practical level, such as the use of more generalizable videos and optimizing the flow. Conclusion: The study showed limited effects of the video intervention. It revealed recruitment challenges, while acceptability was high after inclusion. Moving forward, face-to-face clinician-patient interactions remain important, while cautiously exploring the potential benefits of modern technological advancements, ensuring thorough testing of their effects before implementation. Innovation: This study marks an innovative approach in utilizing digital interventions to enhance cancer patient outcomes within clinical settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f469a2083a804dd098ec9ab068139efb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2772-6282 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PEC Innovation |
| spelling | doaj-art-f469a2083a804dd098ec9ab068139efb2025-01-23T05:28:01ZengElsevierPEC Innovation2772-62822025-06-016100373The effect of clinician-expressed empathy and nocebo-alleviating information on breast-cancer-patients' anxiety and side effects during active chemotherapy: A clinical feasibility studyLara C. Gröschel0Fiona T. Brosig1Marcel Soesan2Katherina T. Vourtsis3Mirte van der Spek4Elise Sluiter5Liesbeth M. van Vliet6Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Health-, Medical and Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The NetherlandsHealth, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Health-, Medical and Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The NetherlandsDepartment of Medical Oncology, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The NetherlandsHealth, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Health-, Medical and Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The NetherlandsDepartment of Medical Oncology, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Medical Oncology, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The NetherlandsHealth, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Health-, Medical and Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The Netherlands; Corresponding author at: Leiden University, Department of Health-, Medical and Neuropsychology, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The Netherlands.Objective: We set up a pilot-study to investigate main and interaction effects of nocebo-alleviating information and clinician-expressed empathy delivered via a standardized information-video on breast cancer patients' psychological and side effect outcomes during chemotherapy. Additionally, we aimed to reflect on the feasibility of the intervention (acceptability, practicality and integration) to inform future – follow-up – studies. Methods: Using a clinical proof-of-principle randomized controlled trial, female breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy viewed one of four videos, varying in the level of nocebo-alleviating information(+/−) and clinician-expressed empathy(+/−). Due to the small sample size (n = 27), descriptive and recruitment data were utilized to evaluate effects and reflect on feasibility. Results: The interventions appeared to yield limited effects on our small sample. Feasibility reflections mainly focused on the practical level, such as the use of more generalizable videos and optimizing the flow. Conclusion: The study showed limited effects of the video intervention. It revealed recruitment challenges, while acceptability was high after inclusion. Moving forward, face-to-face clinician-patient interactions remain important, while cautiously exploring the potential benefits of modern technological advancements, ensuring thorough testing of their effects before implementation. Innovation: This study marks an innovative approach in utilizing digital interventions to enhance cancer patient outcomes within clinical settings.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772628225000020Breast cancerCommunicationEmpathyInformationNocebo-effectsVideo-interventions |
| spellingShingle | Lara C. Gröschel Fiona T. Brosig Marcel Soesan Katherina T. Vourtsis Mirte van der Spek Elise Sluiter Liesbeth M. van Vliet The effect of clinician-expressed empathy and nocebo-alleviating information on breast-cancer-patients' anxiety and side effects during active chemotherapy: A clinical feasibility study PEC Innovation Breast cancer Communication Empathy Information Nocebo-effects Video-interventions |
| title | The effect of clinician-expressed empathy and nocebo-alleviating information on breast-cancer-patients' anxiety and side effects during active chemotherapy: A clinical feasibility study |
| title_full | The effect of clinician-expressed empathy and nocebo-alleviating information on breast-cancer-patients' anxiety and side effects during active chemotherapy: A clinical feasibility study |
| title_fullStr | The effect of clinician-expressed empathy and nocebo-alleviating information on breast-cancer-patients' anxiety and side effects during active chemotherapy: A clinical feasibility study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of clinician-expressed empathy and nocebo-alleviating information on breast-cancer-patients' anxiety and side effects during active chemotherapy: A clinical feasibility study |
| title_short | The effect of clinician-expressed empathy and nocebo-alleviating information on breast-cancer-patients' anxiety and side effects during active chemotherapy: A clinical feasibility study |
| title_sort | effect of clinician expressed empathy and nocebo alleviating information on breast cancer patients anxiety and side effects during active chemotherapy a clinical feasibility study |
| topic | Breast cancer Communication Empathy Information Nocebo-effects Video-interventions |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772628225000020 |
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