Effectiveness of a developed module for colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in reducing depression at the National Cancer Institute, Malaysia.

INTRODUCTION

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers globally. The burden continues to grow globally, exerting tremendous physical, emotional and financial strain on individuals, families, communities and health systems.CRC patients undergoing chemotherapy frequently experience considerable depression. The objective of the study was to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of the developed module for pharmacists in reducing depression among CRC patients undergoing chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A systematic, single-blinded study involving 98 patients receiving chemotherapy was carried out at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The estimated sample size was 98 participants (49 in each group). A selfadministered validated questionnaire was used to collect data on the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents. The validated PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used to assess the depression level and social support of the patients. The intervention group received chemotherapy counselling using the newly developed module during their first, second, and third follow-up. The control group received the standard practice chemotherapy counselling upon their initial visit and during the first cycle. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Independent t-test and two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyse the effectiveness of the intervention. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant, and partial eta squared was used to measure effect size.

RESULTS

All participants completed the questionnaire at baseline and followed the first, second, and third chemotherapy counselling sessions, giving a response rate of 100%. No significant difference was detected between the intervention and control groups at the baseline concerning sociodemographic characteristics, depression and social support. The depression scores of the intervention group recorded significant decrements at the third follow-up (p= 0.043), indicating the effectiveness of repetitive counselling in addressing the psychological issues faced by CRC patients.

CONCLUSION

The newly developed counselling module was effective in reducing depression among colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. This study provided evidence-based data on repetitive counselling in improving the psychological and social support of chemotherapy in CRC patients by pharmacists.