Effects of a Psycho‐Behavioural Intervention on Cancer‐Related Fatigue Among Patients With Colorectal Cancer: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
Published online on August 07, 2026
Abstract
["Psycho-Oncology, Volume 35, Issue 8, August 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\n\nBackground\nPost‐treatment colorectal cancer patients commonly experience cancer‐related fatigue (CRF), yet few interventions address this concern.\n\n\nObjectives\nTo examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a psycho‐behavioural intervention on CRF and other health outcomes in this population.\n\n\nMethods\nA single‐blinded, parallel‐group RCT was conducted with a pilot sample of 50 participants randomized to a 6‐week psycho‐behavioural intervention or usual care. Feasibility was assessed through recruitment, completion, attendance, attrition, and retention rates; acceptability via satisfaction surveys and semi‐structured interviews. Outcomes included CRF, physical activity, dietary behaviours, sleep disturbance, anxiety and depressive symptoms, assessed at baseline and within 1‐week post‐intervention.\n\n\nResults\nFeasibility benchmarks were met: recruitment 52.6%, completion 72.0%, attendance 74.7%, attrition 6.0%, and retention 94.0%. High satisfaction and positive qualitative feedback indicated good acceptability. Repeated Measures ANOVA revealed significant group‐by‐time interaction effects favouring the intervention for reducing CRF (F = 6.49, p = 0.014; Hedges' g = −0.71), enhancing physical activity (F = 19.76, p < 0.001; Hedges' g = 1.24), improving dietary behaviours (F = 4.74, p = 0.034; Hedges' g = 0.61), and alleviating sleep disturbance (F = 9.64, p = 0.003; Hedges' g = −0.86), but not for anxiety (F = 3.01, p = 0.089; Hedges' g = −0.48) or depressive symptoms (F = 3.77, p = 0.058; Hedges' g = −0.54).\n\n\nConclusion\nThe psycho‐behavioural intervention demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy in reducing CRF, enhancing physical activity, improving dietary behaviours, and alleviating sleep disturbance in this population. A definitive RCT is warranted to evaluate longer‐term effects.\n\n"]