Lisa Beatty, PhD, of Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, discusses online interventions as a new, innovative approach to supportive care treatment. Although traditional face to face therapies are effective, only twenty five percent of patients who are clinically, significantly distressed elect to attend these. This has paved the way for innovative methods to address their needs. There are patients who may live remotely or in regional areas, which creates some access barriers for them to attend face-to-face treatments. Dr Beatty discusses an online six module programme, developed based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), the gold-standard treatment. The same traditional CBT principles are applied in a web-based programme. Dr Beatty mentions the online intervention provides video testimonials of the same information that would be offered in traditional sessions. Various strategies and worksheets are also available to patients online. Coping with physical symptoms and side effects is one of the first modules patients will access. The modules include useful information and strategies they can implement to help them address their problems. Dr Beatty highlights the intervention as being personalised and secure. Recorded at the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and International Society of Ocular Oncology (ISOO) 2016 Annual Meeting on Supportive Care in Cancer held in Adelaide, Australia.
