Planning and Developing a Web-Based Intervention for Active Surveillance in Prostate Cancer; An Integrated Self-Care Programme for Managing Psychological Distress

Abstract Objectives:To outline the planning, development and optimisation of a psycho-educational behavioural intervention for patients on active surveillance for prostate cancer. The intervention aimed to support men manage active surveillance related psychological distress.Methods:The person-based approach (PBA) was used as the overarching guiding methodological framework for intervention development. Evidence-based methods were incorporated to improve robustness. The process comprised of the following four components:· A systematic review and meta-analysis of depression and anxiety in prostate cancer· A cross-sectional survey on depression and anxiety in active surveillance· A review of existing interventions in the field· A qualitative study with the target audienceThe purpose of this paper is to bring these components together and describe how they facilitated the establishment of key guiding principles and a logic model, which underpinned the first draft of the intervention.Results:The prototype intervention, named PROACTIVE, consists of six internet-based sessions run concurrently with three group support sessions. The sessions cover the following topics: lifestyle (diet and exercise), relaxation and resilience techniques, talking to friends and family, thoughts and feelings, daily life (money and work), and includes information about prostate cancer and active surveillance.Conclusions:The planning and development process is key to successful delivery of an appropriate, accessible and acceptable intervention. The PBA strengthened the intervention by drawing on target-user experiences to maximise acceptability and user engagement. This meticulous description in a clinical setting using this rigorous but flexible method is a useful demonstration for others developing similar interventions.Trial registration and ethical approval:NRES Committee South Central – Oxford A. REC reference: 11/SC/0355IRAS project ID: 83650