Impact of a psychosocial intervention on performance status and coping.

9611 Background: Psychosocial distress is a critical cancer comorbidity; new interventions are needed. Pathfinders, a manualized psychosocial care program, provides patient navigation, counseling, coping skills training, mind/body techniques, and lifestyle advice. METHODS: This prospective, single-arm, pilot study enrolled adult metastatic breast cancer patients with prognosis ≥6 months. Consenting participants met with a Pathfinder (trained social worker) at least monthly, with interim phone/email contact. Pathfinders worked with patients to identify inner strengths, teach coping skills, engage complementary/alternative providers, employ mind/body techniques, and support healthy lifestyle. At baseline, month 3 and month 6, patients completed surveys including Patient Care Monitor (PCM; a review of systems with 6 subscales and a global quality of life [QOL] score), and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue subscale (FACIT-F). RESULTS: Participants (n=50) were: mean age 51.2 years (SD 11.5); 24% non-white; 74% married; 50% did not complete college; the cohort had advanced cancer and short prognosis with 6-month attrition from death, 18%. Scores on the PCM Distress subscale improved from baseline to 3 months with a mean change of -3.42 (n=36; p=0.008) and from baseline to 6 months of -4.11 (n=28; p=0.002). PCM Despair subscale scores also improved: mean change of -4.53 (p=0.006) and -6.93 (p=0.016), respectively. PCM QOL and FACIT-F scores improved from baseline to 3 months; however, the change at 6 months, with smaller sample, was not statistically significant. Mean change in QOL from baseline to 3 and 6 months was 2.88 (n=30; p=0.006) and 2.66 (n=25; p=0.079), respectively. Mean change in FACIT-F from baseline to 3 and 6 months was 2.91 (n=39; p=0.020) and 1.29 (n=32; p=0.407), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pathfinders had significant positive effect on key psychosocial and QOL outcomes, notably distress and despair, for cancer patients despite advanced disease and worsening symptoms. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Duke Scholars

Author Herbert Kim Lyerly Surgery, Surgical Sciences

Author James Emmett Herndon II Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Division of Biostatistics