Improving the health literacy of women with breast cancer using an old-new approach: A feasibility study / Báthory Szilvia, Macskásy Katalin
Bibliogr.: p. 28.30. - Abstr. eng. - DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/2066.2025.00076
In: Developments in Health Sciences. - ISSN 2630-9378, eISSN 2630-936X. - 2025. 8. évf. 1. sz., p. 18-32. : ill.
Purpose: The study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of a future full-scale randomized clinical trial (RCT) of the Alice Program, a body awareness therapy, based on the integrability of this approach into oncological rehabilitation, as well as the impact of the Alice Program on managing the adverse consequences of cancer and cancer therapy and improving the health literacy of breast cancer survivors. Materials/methods: We conducted a single-arm, before-and-after feasibility study with pre- and posttreatment assessment of shoulder and trunk mobility, balance, and health-related quality of life, as well as a 5-year follow-up to assess patient experiences with the Alice Program. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment scope, adherence to the Alice Program, adverse events, and program structure. Twenty-nine women with breast cancer aged between 32 and 65 were included in the study. The Alice Program was conducted at the Rehabilitation Department of Uzsoki Hospital in Budapest. Results: Ineffective patient recruitment is the biggest obstacle to conducting a future RCT. Patients' experiences demonstrated the acceptability of the Alice Program, and the assessed variables indicated the effectiveness of the Alice Program in a small sample of breast cancer survivors. Conclusions: Although the findings suggest that it is feasible to conduct a future full-scale RCT of the Alice Program for breast cancer survivors, some changes are needed - for example to the recruitment strategy, selection criteria, and program structure - to optimise the time efficiency ratio. Kulcsszavak: Alice program, body awareness therapy, breast cancer, feasibility study, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), improving health literacy, patient-centred oncological physiotherapy