Telehealth Nurse Follow-Up May Aid Emotional Recovery After Ovarian Cancer

Nurse-led telehealth follow-ups may increase emotional well-being for survivors of ovarian cancer, according to data from a randomized, controlled phase 2 trial shared at the 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress and published in Annals of Oncology.

Patients in the nurse-led telehealth group showed greater improvement in emotional well-being compared to those receiving standard care. Depending on the threshold used for improvement in FACT-O scores, 20% to 33% of patients in the nurse-led group demonstrated meaningful gains in emotional well-being, compared with none or very few in the standard care group.

Specifically, 20% (n = 3; 95% CI, 4%-48%) of patients in the intervention group experienced a change of at least 5 FACT-O emotional well-being, and changes of at least 2 points to at least 4 points were seen in 33% of patients receiving intervention (n = 5; 95% CI, 12%-62%). In the control group, 0% (n = 0; 95% CI, 0%-31%) saw changes of 3 or more points, and 1 patients (10%; 95% CI, 0.2%-45%) saw a change of 2 points.

A total of 38 patients were enrolled across six Australian sites, and 25 were evaluable after withdrawals. Although the study was limited by a small sample size, the trend favored the nurse-led approach.

What Are the Benefits of Nurse-Led Telehealth in Ovarian Cancer Survivorship?

The trial examined whether nurse-led telehealth follow-up could improve emotional well-being in ovarian cancer survivors compared with standard in-person clinic visits. After treatment, many women experience ongoing physical and emotional challenges, including anxiety, depression, sexual dysfunction, and fear of recurrence. Traditional follow-up visits often focus primarily on detecting disease recurrence, leaving these concerns insufficiently addressed. This trial evaluated the use of the MOST-S26, a patient-reported outcome measure designed to systematically assess both physical and psychological symptoms, as part of a structured nurse-led follow-up conducted every 3 months.

Eligible participants were adults with stage I-IV high-grade serous, grade 3 endometrioid, clear cell, or mucinous ovarian cancer who had completed chemotherapy, had an ECOG performance status of 0–2, and a normal CA125 level. Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive either nurse-led telehealth follow-up or routine clinic-based follow-up. The primary end point was emotional well-being at 6 months, measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Ovarian (FACT-O) questionnaire.

Nursing Considerations

For oncology nurses, these findings highlight the important role of nurse-led follow-up in supporting the emotional recovery of ovarian cancer survivors. Using tools like the MOST-S26 can help nurses identify symptoms early and provide timely interventions for both physical and emotional needs. Incorporating telehealth into survivorship care can help make support more accessible and consistent.

While this study was limited by its small sample size, it provides a foundation for oncology teams to consider integrating similar models of care into their own practice settings. Nurse-led telehealth follow-up could be adapted for other cancer populations to promote early recognition of physical and emotional concerns and facilitate timely referrals to supportive care services. Nurses are uniquely positioned to lead these initiatives, given their close patient relationships and their ability to recognize subtle changes in the well-being of patients between visits.

Oncology nurses play a vital role in supporting patients not only during active treatment but also as they adjust to life after cancer. For women treated for ovarian cancer, the end of chemotherapy can bring a mix of relief and uncertainty, as many continue to experience physical symptoms, anxiety, and fear of recurrence. Traditional follow-up care often centers on detecting disease relapse, leaving less room to address these ongoing emotional and quality-of-life challenges. As survivorship care continues to evolve, nurse-led telehealth visits that include structured symptom assessments could offer a way to provide more comprehensive support for cancer survivors.

References

Cohen PA, Obermair A, Gebski V, et al. A phase II randomized trial of nurse-led telehealth follow-up including patient-reported outcomes using the MOST-S26 (measure of ovarian symptoms and treatment concerns). Ann Oncol. 2025;36(suppl 2):CN88. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2025.08.1166

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