Table 1.
Characteristics of included studies.
| Author | Inclusion criteria | Cancer type and stage | Interventions and sample Sizes | Control and sample size | Sessions × durations periods | Outcome measures | Follow-up time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burns et al. (2023), USA | (1) ≥ 21 years old; (2) diagnosed with unresectable stage III or IV GI cancer; (3) FSI mean score ≥ 2.5; (4) no significant cognitive impairment; (5) ECOG score ≤ 2; (6) not receiving hospice care. |
Gastrointestinal cancer; Stage III or IV |
ACT (n = 20) Telephone-based Posttreatment n = 14 (lost 6) 70% Follow-up n = 14 (lost 6) 70% |
Education/support (n = 20) Posttreatment n = 18 (lost 2) 90% Follow-up n = 15 (lost 5) 75% |
6 × 50 min, 6w | PROMIS-A PROMIS-CC PROMIS-D PROMIS-SD PROMIS-PIa PROMIS-PIb FSI |
3 M |
| Daneshvar et al. (2020), Iran | (1) 30–50 years of age; (2) being under chemotherapy; (3) literacy. |
Breast cancer; NI |
ACT (n = 15) Face-to-face Posttreatment n = 15 (lost 0) 100% Follow-up n = 15 (lost 0) 100% |
Active-group meeting. (n = 15) Posttreatment n = 15 (lost 0) 100% Follow-up n = 15 (lost 0) 100% |
8 × 1.5 h, 8w | RSS CBI |
1 M |
| Fernández-Rodríguez et al. (2021), Spain | (1) between 18 and 65 years of age; (2) finished oncological treatment with surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy for any type of malignant tumor; (3) currently be free of any type of oncological disease; (4) scores ≥8 in at least one of the subscales of the HADS |
Any type of malignant tumor; NI |
ACT (n = 17) Face-to-face Posttreatment n = 12 (lost 5) 70.6% Follow-up n = 12 (lost 5) 70.6% |
WL (n = 27) Posttreatment n = 23 (lost 4) 85.2% Follow-up n = 17 (lost 10) 63.0% |
12 × 1.5 h, 12w | HADS-T HADS-A HADS-D EROS BDI-IA-SCA BADS-T AAQ-2 CSQ-8 |
3 M |
| Ghorbani et al. (2021), Iran | (1) having a diagnosis of breast cancer by a physician; (2) not presenting other serious diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, etc.); (3) being at least 18 years old; (4) having at least primary school education level; (5) being married; (6) being motivated to participate in the program; (7) having a depression score ≥ 10 according to the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21); (8) having an anxiety score ≥ 8 according to DASS-21 test; and (9) having no history of hospitalization in psychiatric section. | Breast cancer; NI |
ACT (n = 20) Face-to-face Posttreatment n = 20 (lost 0) 100% Follow-up n = 20 (lost 0) 100% |
WL (n = 20) Posttreatment n = 20 (lost 0) 100% Follow-up n = 20 (lost 0) 100% |
8 × 1.5 h, 8w | DASS-21 AAQ-2 CPAQ |
2 M |
| Johns et al. (2020), USA | (1) aged ≥18 years, (2) had stage I to stage III breast cancer, (3) had completed curative treatment (ongoing endocrine therapy was allowed), (4) had not experienced a cancer recurrence, and (5) had clinically significant FCR (Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory–Short Form [FCRI-SF] 8 scores ≥13) | Breast cancer; Stage I to Stage III |
ACT (n = 33) Face-to-face Posttreatment n = 29 (lost 4) 87.9% Follow-up n = 30 (lost 3) 90.9% |
TAU (n = 26) Posttreatment n = 25 (lost 1) 96.2% Follow-up n = 25 (lost 1) 96.2% |
6 × 2 h, 6w | FCRI-PDS GAD-7 PHQ-8 Cancer-AAQ FCRI-FIS PROMIS-P PROMIS-M IES-R |
6 M |
| Li et al. (2022), China | (1) ≥ 18 years old; (2) diagnosed with stage III/IV lung cancer via pathological section or cytology; (3) FSI score ≥ 3; (4) had a reliable Internet connection and a mobile smartphone. | Lung cancer; Stage III/IV |
ACT (n = 20) Face-to-face and Internet-based. Posttreatment n = 15 (lost 5) 75% |
TAU (n = 20) Posttreatment n = 20 (lost 0) 100% |
4 × 1 ~ 1.5 h, 4w | FSI FACT-L MFI PHQ-9 GAD-7 IES-R |
\ |
| Mani et al. (2019), Iran | (1) no major psychiatric disorders, (2) at least a primary school education, (3) having undergone treatment, (4) at least 3 months after disease diagnosis, and breast cancer stages 2 or 3. | Breast cancer; Stages II or III |
ACT (n = 15) Face-to-face Posttreatment n = 15 (lost 0) 100% No follow-up |
Active-group meeting (n = 15) Posttreatment n = 15 (lost 0) 100% No follow-up |
8 × 2 h, 1 m | PANAS QOL AHS |
\ |
| Mosher et al. (2022), USA | (1) diagnosed with unresectable stage III or IV gastrointestinal cancer; (2) Fatigue Interference subscale of FSI mean score ≥ 2.5; and (3) a consenting family caregiver. | Gastrointestinal cancer; Stage III or IV |
ACT (n = 20) Telephone-based Posttreatment n = 14 (lost 6) 70% Follow-up n = 14 (lost 6) 70% |
Education/support (n = 20) Posttreatment n = 18 (lost 2) 90% Follow-up n = 15 (lost 5) 75% |
6 × 50 min, 6w | FSI Zarit PROMIS VQ AAQ-2 MQoL |
3 M |
| Mosher et al. (2019), USA | (1) a diagnosis of advanced lung cancer (i.e., stage III or IV non-small cell or extensive stage small cell lung cancer) at least 3 weeks before enrollment; (2) had at least one moderate-to-severe symptom, defined as a Rotterdam Symptom item score > 2 on a 1–4 scale for fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, breathlessness, depressive symptoms, or worry; and (3) a consenting primary family caregiver | Advanced lung cancer; Stage III or IV |
ACT (n = 25) Telephone-based Posttreatment n = 20 (lost 5) 80% Follow-up n = 20 (lost 5) 80% |
Active-group meeting (n = 25) Posttreatment n = 18 (lost 7) 72% Follow-up n = 18 (lost 7) 72% |
6 × 50 min, 6w | PROMIS-D PROMIS-A PROMIS-DT FSI PROMIS-F PROMIS-SRI PROMIS-PIa MDASI MSASB |
6 W |
| Mosher et al. (2018), USA | (1) patients had been diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer at least 3 weeks prior to enrollment and (2) had at least one moderate-to-severe symptom, defined by T-scores ≥ (at least one-half standard deviation above the population mean) on a three-item Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measure of pain severity or a four-item PROMIS measure of fatigue, sleep disturbance, depressive symptoms, or anxiety | Breast cancer; Stage IV |
ACT (n = 23) Telephone-based Posttreatment n = 18 (lost 5) 78.3% Follow-up n = 17 (lost 6) 73.9% |
Active-group meeting (n = 24) Posttreatment n = 21 (lost 3) 87.5% Follow-up n = 20 (lost 4) 83.3% |
6 × 1 h, 6w | PROMIS-D PROMIS-A FSI PROMIS-F PROMIS-SRI PROMIS-SD PROMIS-PIa MDASI |
6 W |
| Peron (2022), USA | (1) Aged 19 ~ 59; (2) Diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) through germline mutation OR clinical diagnosis; (3) Possession of a plexiform neurofibromas (PN) documentation, based on either clinical exam or imaging; (4) Mean score of the Pain Interference Index ≥2.0 with self-report of chronic pain interfering daily functions at least 3 months. (5) Regular access to the Internet; (6) Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. (7) No anticipated major changes in their pain treatment regimen or enrollment in a new treatment study presumed to impact pain soon. (8) Comprehension of the English language. | Neurofibromatosis type 1/ Plexiform Neurofibromas; NI |
ACT (n = 32) Face-to-face plus Internet-based Posttreatment n = 32 (lost 0) 100% Follow-up n = 30 (lost 2) 93.8% |
WL (n = 34) Posttreatment n = 30 (lost 4) 88.2% Follow-up n = 30 (lost 4) 88.2% |
5 × 2 h, 8w | PROMIS-PIa PedsQL CPAQ NRS-11 CES-D PASS-20 EKG PIPS |
\ |
| Rost et al. (2012), USA | Those labeled as having Stage III or IV ovarian cancer were approached by an experimenter when they checked into the clinic or were waiting to see their oncologist while in the waiting room or exam room. | Ovarian cancer; Stage III or IV |
ACT (n = 25) Face-to-face Posttreatment n = 15 (lost 10) 60% No follow-up |
TAU (n = 22) Posttreatment n = 16 (lost 6) 72.7% No follow-up |
12 × 1 h, 12w | BDI-II BAI POMS CECS WBSI COPE FACT-G |
\ |
| Serfaty et al. (2019), UK | People with advanced cancer attending day-therapy services, as in or out-patients, at three hospices in London, UK, were considered for participation if they were aged 18 years or more with a diagnosis of advanced cancer not amenable to cure (i.e., metastases at first diagnosis, subsequent recurrence, or lung cancer with or without metastases) FACT-G score below 81. | Any type of advanced cancers; Stage III or IV |
ACT (n = 20) Face-to-face Posttreatment n = 7 (lost 13) 35% Follow-up n = 7 (lost 13) 35% |
Active-group meeting (n = 22) Posttreatment n = 11 (lost 11) 50% Follow-up n = 8 (lost 14) 36.4% |
8 × 1 h, 3 m | K10 AAQ-2 FACT-G 2-MWT 1-MSTST EQ-5D-5L |
3 M |
| Shari et al. (2021), Malaysia | Breast cancer patients aged ≥18 years, had a reduction score from 6.9- to 10.6 of FACT-cog score from baseline and received standard adjuvant chemotherapy (FEC, FAC, taxane-based chemotherapy, and cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil (CMF)) | Breast cancer; Stages I to III | ACT (n = 32) Face-to-face Posttreatment n = 30 (lost 2) 93.8% No follow-up |
WL (n = 30) Posttreatment n = 30 (lost 0) 100% No follow-up |
4 × 1 h, 12w | HADS-A HADS-D AAQ-2 FACT-F FACT-Cog |
\ |
| Wells-Di Gregorio et al. (2019), USA | Diagnosis of advanced cancer, sleep difficulties, and at least 18 years of age. Preliminary data from 141 advanced cancer patients suggested high levels of worry, depression, and fatigue, so we did not use these symptoms as inclusion criteria. We defined advanced cancer as a disease type with <55% chance of 5-year survival per SEER statistics in 2008–2009. | Any type of advanced cancer; Stages II to IV |
CBT-ACT (17) Combined mode Posttreatment n = 14 (lost 3) 82.4% No follow-up |
WL (n = 13) Posttreatment n = 11 (lost 2) 84.6% No follow-up |
3 × 1.5 h, 6w | PSWQ CES-D STAI JSCS-Emot JSCS-Tot FSI NSFSD-SE NSFSD-SL ISI ESS |
\ |
| Wright et al. (2023), USA | (1) ≥ 18 years old; (2) diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer; (3) received PARPi for ≥2 months; (4) English speaking; (5) ≥ 4 average rating on the first three items of the FSI 0–10 scale. |
Ovarian cancer; Stages III/IV |
REVITALIZE based on ACT Videoconference (21) Posttreatment n = 15 (lost 6) 71.4% Follow-up n = 15 (lost 6) 71.4% |
TAU (n = 23) Posttreatment n = 23 (lost 0) 100% Follow-up n = 23 (lost 0) 100% |
6 × 1 h, 6-8w | FSI GAD-7 PHQ-8 FCRI-SF FACT-O |
1 M |
AAQ-2, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II; AHS, Adult Hope Scale; BAI, The Beck Anxiety Inventory; BDI-II, Short form of Beck Depression Inventory-II; CBI, Cancer Behavior Inventory; CECS, The Courtland Emotional Control Scale; CES-D, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; CPAQ, Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire; DASS-21, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale; EROS, Environmental Reward Observation Scale; EKG, Electrocardiogram; ESS, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (Daytime Sleepiness); FACT, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy; FACT-G, FACT-General, FACT-Cog, FACT-Cognitive, FACT-L, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Lung, Version 4, FCRI-Functioning Impairments Subscale, FACT-O, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Ovarian Cancer; FCRI-PDS, FCRI-Psychological Distress Subscale; FCRI-FIS, FCRI-Functioning Impairments Subscale; FSI, Fatigue Symptom Inventory; GAD-7, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale; HADS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS-A, Anxiety Subscale of HADS; HADS-D, Depression Subscale of HADS; IES-R, Impact of Events Scale-Revised; ISI, the Insomnia Severity Index; JSCS-Emot, James Supportive Care Screening—Emotional Distress; JSCS-Tot, James Supportive Care Screening—Cancer-Related Distress; K10, The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale; MDASI, MD Anderson Symptom Inventory; MFI, The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory; MQoL, McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire-Revised; MSASB, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (Breathlessness); NRS-11, Numeric Rating Scale-11; NSFSD-SE, National sleep Foundation Sleep Diary (Sleep Efficiency); NSFSD-SL, National Sleep Foundation Sleep Diary (Sleep Latency); PANAS, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule; PASS-20, Pain Anxiety Assessment Scale-20; PANAS, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule; PedsQL, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory; PHQ-9, The Patient Health Questionnaire; PIPS, 12-item Psychological Inflexibility in Pain Scale; POMS, the Profile of Mood States (Distress); PROMIS, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System; PROMIS-A, PROMIS anxiety; PROMIS-CC, PROMIS cognitive concerns; PROMIS-D, PROMIS depression, PROMIS-DT, PROMIS distress thermometer, PROMIS-F, PROMIS fatigue, PROMIS-P, PROMIS Global Health Scale-Physical; PROMIS-M, PROMIS Global Health Scale-Mental, PROMIS-PIa, PROMIS scale for pain interference, PROMIS-PIb, PROMIS scale for pain intense; PROMIS-SRI, PROMIS scale for sleep-related impairment, PROMIS SD, four-item PROMIS short-form sleep disturbance, PSWQ, Penn State Worry Questionnaire; QoL, Quality of Life Questionnaire; RSS, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale; STAI, the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory; VQ, Valuing Questionnaire; WBSI, The White Bear Thought Suppression Inventory; 2-MWT, Two-Minute Walking Test; 1-MSTST, One-Minute Sit-to-Stand Test; NI, No information.