ABSTRACT

Glioma is a common type of brain tumour that is associated with neurocognitive and psychosocial impairments. This study primarily aimed to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a videoconferencing format of the Making Sense of Brain Tumour (Tele-MAST) programme. Recruited from a multidisciplinary brain tumour clinic, participants were randomly allocated to the 10-session Tele-MAST programme or standard care, with the latter group offered Tele-MAST after re-assessment. Semi-structured interviews explored participants' experiences of receiving psychological support via the videoconferencing platform. Measures of mental health and quality of life were administered at pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments. Of the 35 patients deemed eligible for the study, 14 (40% accrual) with high grade (71%) or low grade (29%) glioma participated. They were randomized to the Tele-MAST condition (n = 8) or standard care/waitlist (n = 6). Ten individuals commenced the Tele-MAST programme, of whom eight completed ≥8 sessions. The major themes that depicted their experience of the Tele-MAST programme were ease of access and benefits of remote delivery, tailored support and immediacy, and sense of connection versus disconnection. Most participants (63%) demonstrated clinically reliable improvement at post-intervention. These preliminary findings support the feasibility and acceptability of remote delivery of psychological support and highlight the need for a larger-scale evaluation of the Tele-MAST programme.

摘要

神经胶质瘤是一种常见的脑肿瘤，与神经认知和社会心理障碍有关。本研究的主要目的是调查了解脑肿瘤 (Tele-MAST) 计划的视频会议形式的可行性和可接受性。从多学科脑肿瘤诊所招募的参与者被随机分配到 10 次 Tele-MAST 计划或标准护理，后一组在重新评估后提供 Tele-MAST。半结构化访谈探讨了参与者通过视频会议平台获得心理支持的经历。在干预前和干预后评估中对心理健康和生活质量进行了测量。在被认为符合研究条件的 35 名患者中，14 (40%) 高级别 (71%) 或低级别 (29%) 胶质瘤参与。他们被随机分配到 Tele-MAST 条件下（n  = 8) 或标准护理/候补名单 ( n  = 6)。10 人开始了 Tele-MAST 计划，其中 8 人完成了 ≥8 节。描述他们对 Tele-MAST 计划体验的主要主题是远程交付的便利性和好处、量身定制的支持和即时性以及连接感与断开连接感。大多数参与者（63%）在干预后表现出临床可靠的改善。这些初步调查结果支持远程提供心理支持的可行性和可接受性，并强调需要对 Tele-MAST 计划进行更大规模的评估。