Improving psychological support for cancer patients: a study on readiness and resources
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN13692666 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13692666 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) | 342394 |
| Protocol serial number | 164804/2024 , CPMS 61828 |
| Sponsor | Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust |
| Funders | East Midland Cancer Alliance, National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration East of England |
- Submission date
- 17/10/2024
- Registration date
- 18/10/2024
- Last edited
- 09/09/2025
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims?
Cancer patients are up to three times more likely to experience common mental health issues, such as depression, which can lead to reduced adherence to cancer treatments, increased healthcare costs, and poorer overall health outcomes. While psychological therapies effectively treat depression in cancer patients, many face long waits before starting therapy. This delay can worsen mental health, but timely, accessible brief interventions may help. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief Therapy Preparation Intervention (TPI) for adult cancer patients awaiting psychological therapy for moderate-to-severe depression. The TPI includes an initial session on psychoeducation, goal setting, and motivational interviewing, followed by automated text reminders until therapy begins.
Who can participate?
Adults receiving cancer care who are experiencing moderate-to-severe depression and are awaiting psychological therapy will be invited to participate. Referrals will be made through NHS cancer care services and GP practices across the East Midlands.
What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the TPI combined with Treatment as Usual (TAU) or TAU alone. The TPI includes a session at the start of the wait for therapy, covering psychoeducation, goal setting, and motivational interviewing, followed by automated text reminders. Follow-up assessments will occur at 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks to evaluate symptoms of depression and anxiety, mental well-being, functioning, quality of life, therapy dropout rates, and patient activation. Additionally, 20-30 participants from the TPI+TAU group will be interviewed about their experiences with the intervention.
What are the possible risks and benefits of participating?
The risks of participating in this study are minimal, as the TPI is a brief intervention designed to support patients while they wait for psychological therapy. The benefits include potentially improved mental health, greater readiness for therapy, and reduced dropout rates. The qualitative interviews will also help refine the intervention for future use, potentially benefiting a broader range of patients.
Where is the study run from?
The study is being conducted at the East Midlands Cancer Alliance Centre for Psychological Health (EMCA CPH), which provides psychological therapy for cancer patients and training for cancer care staff. The study is supported by the East Midlands Cancer Alliance (EMCA). All the study activities, including the TPI, the psychological therapy, and the assessments will be remote.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
December 2023 to February 2026
Who is funding the study?
The study is funded by the East Midlands Cancer Alliance (EMCA), which is committed to improving cancer care and outcomes across the region. Additional funding will be provided by the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) ARC EM (Applied Research Collaboration East Midlands).
Who is the main contact?
clem.boutry@nottingham.ac.uk
mcasm2@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk
Shireen.Patel@nottingham.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
8 Barnstaple Close
University of Nottingham
Jubilee campus
Innovation Park, Triumph Road, Nottingham NG7 2TU
Nottingham
NG7 2TU
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 7929 852 207 |
|---|---|
| clem.boutry@nottingham.ac.uk |
Scientific, Principal investigator
Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham Innovation Park, Triumph Road
Nottingham
NG7 2TU
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 115 823 1294 |
|---|---|
| mcasm2@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk |
Public
Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham Innovation Park, Triumph Road
Nottingham
NG7 2TU
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 115 823 1294 |
|---|---|
| shireen.patel@nottingham.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Two-arm multicentre single-blind randomized controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Psychological therapy readiness and resourcing in oncology – support to promote an enhanced response (PROSPER): a randomised controlled trial |
| Study acronym | PROSPER |
| Study objectives | 1. Participants allocated to the TPI (Therapy Intervention Preparation) and treatment as usual (TAU) group (active group) will report greater reduction in depressive symptoms than those receiving TAU alone. 2. Participants receiving TPI and TAU will report a lower dropout rate related to the psychological therapy than those receiving TAU alone. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 26/09/2024, Bromley Research Ethics Committee (2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ, United Kingdom; +44 207 1048124; bromley.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 24/LO/0610 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Patients in cancer care being referred for psychological therapy following difficulty with mental health, particularly depression |
| Intervention | Randomisation is conducted online via REDCap, with data password-protected and accessible only by an unblinded trial coordinator or their nominee. Participants are randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either TPI + TAU or TAU alone. Researchers completing trial assessments will be blind to arm allocation. Follow-up assessments are conducted at 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks post-randomisation. Semi-structured interviews of participants receiving TPI + TAU will be nested in the study to gather qualitative data. Treatment as Usual (TAU) Group: Participants in this group will receive standard psychological video-therapy and a pre-therapy document during the waiting period. The standard psychological therapy sessions will be conducted as per usual care protocols. Therapy Preparation Intervention (TPI) + Treatment as Usual (TAU) Group: Participants in this group will receive the standard psychological video-therapy and pre-therapy document, along with the TPI. The TPI includes a one-hour video or telephone consultation with a practitioner, followed by personalised SMS-based smart-messaging delivered via an automated messaging system. The TPI is provided during the waiting period before the standard psychological therapy sessions. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Depression symptoms via the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) over 24 weeks with measures at baseline, and then at four, eight, twelve and twenty-four weeks post randomisation. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Anxiety is measured using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) at baseline, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks post randomisation |
| Completion date | 14/02/2026 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 150 |
| Total final enrolment | 160 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Aged 18 years or older 2. Able to engage with psychological therapy sessions conducted in English 3. Competent to give informed consent 4. Diagnosed with cancer and awaiting psychological therapy with EMCA CPH for symptoms of moderate-to-severe depression during the recruitment period of the study 5. A score of 10 or more on PHQ-9 |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Immediate risk to self or others 2. Currently receiving psychological therapy with another service. 3. Unable or unwilling to receive care remotely. |
| Date of first enrolment | 17/10/2024 |
| Date of final enrolment | 14/08/2025 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centres
Duncan Macmillan House
Porchester Road
Nottingham
NG3 6AA
United Kingdom
Greetwell Road
Lincoln
LN2 5QY
United Kingdom
Uttoxeter Road
Derby
DE22 3NE
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not expected to be made available |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are not expected to be made available due to the absence of consent for data sharing in public repositories. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
09/09/2025: The following changes were made to the study record:
1. The date of final enrolment was changed from 01/09/2025 to 14/08/2025.
2. The completion date was changed from 01/03/2026 to 14/02/2026.
3. Total final enrolment added.
17/10/2024: Trial's existence confirmed by NHS HRA.
