Authors: (including presenting author): :
Chin HL(1), Chow KP(1), Tsang KM(1), Wong YW(1), Lee KY(2), Lam CP(3), Lam YY(1), Cheung YF(1), Yu YMA(1)
Affiliation: :
(1)Department of Surgery, North District Hospital, (2)Health Resource Centre, North District Hospital, (3)Colorectal Surgery, NTEC
Keyword 1: :
Colorectal cancer survivorship
Keyword 2: :
Self-management
Keyword 3: :
Fear of recurrence
Keyword 4: :
Nurse-led intervention
Keyword 5: :
Psychological distress
Introduction: :
The journey of a colorectal cancer survivor does not end with the completion of therapy. Many survivors still encounter ongoing challenges, such as managing long-term side effects, adopting healthier lifestyles, and coping with the persistent fear of cancer recurrence. Therefore, organizing an educational talk regularly for colorectal cancer survivors can boost their confidence, independence, and quality of life.
Objectives: :
1.To improve self-management knowledge regarding diet, lifestyle, and the recognition of red-flag symptoms among colorectal cancer survivors. 2.To reduce psychological distress and the fear of cancer recurrence. 3.To evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-disciplinary educational intervention on survivor well-being and confidence.
Methodology: :
A total of 32 Stage III colorectal cancer survivors, who had completed active treatment within the past one to three years, were recruited from the Department of Surgery at North District Hospital. The intervention consisted of a 90-minute educational session co-led by nurses and a medical social worker. The nurse-led portion focused on practical self-management skills, including education on healthy lifestyles, long-term follow-up plans, and the recognition of red-flag symptoms requiring medical attention. The medical social worker-led portion introduced community support resources and guided participants through a Wing Chun exercise session designed for stress relief. Programme effectiveness was measured using a pre-test, post-test, and a three-week phone follow-up design. Data was collected using validated instruments, including the Distress Thermometer for psychological distress, the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Scale (FCR-7), and a disease-specific knowledge questionnaire to assess learning.
Result & Outcome: :
The educational intervention resulted in significant improvements across all measured domains. Post-intervention, the proportion of participants reporting no distress rose sharply from 15% to 50%, Fear of cancer recurrence showed a marked decline, with the number of survivors in the low-fear category increasing from 19 to 27 and those in the moderate-fear category decreasing from 9 to 4. In addition, participants demonstrated a significant enhancement in self-reported knowledge regarding diet, lifestyle, and red-flag symptoms, with most shifting from “poor” or “average” to “good” knowledge levels. These findings suggested that the intervention was effective in improving both psychological and educational outcomes among survivors. The substantial reduction in distress and fear of cancer recurrence, alongside notable gains in knowledge, indicates that participants were better equipped to manage their health and monitor for potential warning signs. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the value of the programme in enhancing survivors’ overall self-management and well-being.
