The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer with a Stoma: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Dahmardeh, Hanie; Rezvaniamin, Mehdi; Salar, Alireza

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.12.4569

The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer with a Stoma: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

Community Nursing Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.

10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.12.4569

Abstract

Background: Patients with gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) experience multiple psychological and physical complications during cancer treatment. A major psychological concern is the fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), which can negatively affect mental health and quality of life. Therefore, implementing effective interventions to manage FCR is essential. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an Acceptance and Commitment-Based Therapy Program (ACBTP) in reducing FCR among patients with GIC with a stoma. Methods: In this single-blinded randomized clinical trial, 40 patients with GIC and a stoma were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups. The intervention group received eight ACBTP sessions, while the control group received routine care. Data were collected using the FCR-7 questionnaire before and one month after the intervention. Results: There were no statistically significant baseline differences between the two groups regarding gender, age, education, marital status, or stoma duration. Post-intervention, the intervention group had a significantly lower mean FCR score than the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The ACBTP was effective in improving psychological adaptation and significantly reducing FCR in patients with GIC and a stoma. This approach could be considered as part of supportive care in cancer management.

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