• Jennifer C Plumb Vilardaga, Joseph G Winger, Irene Teo, Lynda Owen, Linda M Sutton, Francis J Keefe, and Tamara J Somers.
• Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA. Electronic address: jennifer.plumb.vilardaga@duke.edu.
• J Pain Symptom Manage. 2020 Feb 1; 59 (2): 270278270-278.

ContextPatients with advanced cancer face a life-limiting condition that brings a high symptom burden that often includes pain, fatigue, and psychological distress. Psychosocial interventions have promise for managing symptoms but need additional tailoring for these patients' specific needs. Patients with advanced cancer in the community also face persistent barriers-availability of interventions in community clinics as well as financial and illness-related factors-to accessing psychosocial interventions.ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of telephone implementation of Engage, a novel brief combined Coping Skills Training and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy protocol, for reducing symptoms and increasing quality of life in community patients with advanced cancer.MethodsAdult patients with advanced cancer receiving care in the community received Engage, four 60-minute manualized telephone sessions delivered by a trained psychotherapist and completed pretreatment and post-treatment assessments.ResultsEngage was feasible, achieving 100% accrual (N = 24) of a heterogeneous sample of patients with advanced cancer, with good retention (88% completed). Acceptability was demonstrated via satisfaction (mean 29 of 32; SD 2), engagement (95% attendance), and use of skills. Secondary analyses pointed to reductions in pain interference, fatigue, psychological distress, and improvements in psychological acceptance and engagement in value-guided activity after treatment.ConclusionEngage, our brief novel combined Coping Skills and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention, demonstrated initial feasibility and acceptability when delivered over the telephone and increased access for community clinic patients with advanced cancer. Future research will assess the comparative efficacy of Engage in larger randomized trials.Copyright © 2019 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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