Discussion
tumor, fatigue, anxiety, cancer, depression
CANCER, TUMOR, BLIND
This study showed no improvement in anxiety, fatigue, and depression after a 4-week eHealth intervention in video sequences compared to a waiting CG. A follow-up study 3 months after the end of the intervention will examine the possible long-term changes. Though the results of IG and CG did not significantly differ, there was a high recommendation rate of the intervention among the participants of the IG. Unlike most other studies in this field, this study included a very heterogeneous population, which corresponds to the need for studies on a broader range of cancer patients.The study has several limitations that need to be considered. First, the trial had a waiting-only CG that received no treatment. Participants were not blind to the allocated intervention. Second, there was no possibility of controlling intervention adherence as the participants watched the videos at home. Third, the results of this trial are not generalizable to all tumor entities. However, we included patients with subjective needs for psycho-oncological support. Fourth, we conducted no screening concerning psychological burden. More significant changes might have been achieved in cancer patients with higher symptom severity. Finally, we used different therapeutic tools to create the intervention. Therefore, it is impossible to determine which of the methods used have the highest potential to reduce the symptom burden for each objective in each patient.