Tele-MAST Project

Description

This study was a collaborative study between the Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Radiation Oncology and Psychology departments at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Faculty of Health, University of Sydney and ABIOS. The study aimed to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a videoconferencing format for the established Making Sense of Brain Tumour (Tele-MAST) programme.

Rationale

Glioma is a common brain tumour that has been associated with neurocognitive and psychosocial impairments. Psychosocial support following diagnosis is important for recovery and resilience. The Making Sense of Brain Tumour programme is a previously established psychosocial and psychoeducational support service traditionally delivered during face-to-face sessions. Given the geographic spread of people diagnosed with brain tumour each year across urban, regional and rural areas of Australia, new methods of delivering this programme are needed to expand its reach. Videoconferencing as a telehealth platform is one method by which this could be facilitated however there is no evidence as to the acceptability of delivering the programme in this way.

Participants

14 patients with glioma recruited from a multidisciplinary brain tumour clinic

Key Features

New method for delivering established psychosocial/psychoeducational support programme

Randomised controlled trial

Collection of qualitative and quantitative data

Funding

The study was funded by a Metro South Health Research Grant

Research/Evaluation Strategies

Participants were randomly allocated to the 10 session Tele-MAST programme or standard care (waitlist control). Semi-structured interviews explored participant experience of the programme. Measures of mental health and quality of life were administered pre and post intervention

Outputs and Outcomes

Most participants (63%) demonstrated clinically reliable improvement following the Tele-MAST programme. Factors influencing the experience of the programme included ease of access and benefits of remote delivery, tailored support and immediacy, and sense of connection vs disconnection. Preliminary support for delivering the Tele-MAST programme to people with brain tumour by videoconference with a need for a larger scale evaluation.

Publications

Ownsworth, T., Cubis, L., Prasad, T., Foote, M., Kendall, M., Oram, J., Chambers, S., & Pinkham, M. (2020). Feasibility and acceptability of a telehealth platform for delivering the Making Sense of Brain Tumour Program: A mixed-methods pilot study. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, https://doi.org/10.1080/09602011.2020.1826331