CHESS Caregivers Study: Web-based Support for Informal Caregivers in Cancer

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Breast Cancer; Prostate Cancer
• Interventions: Behavioral: computer with internet; Behavioral: Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System

• Registration Number: NCT00214162
• Lead Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Brief Summary

Web-Based Support for Informal Caregivers in Cancer Brief Summary (including hypothesis):

Informal caregivers need information, skills and emotional support to address physical, spiritual, and emotional needs associated with chronic illnesses including late stage cancer. Unfortunately, current conditions force clinicians to reduce their interaction time with patients and informal caregivers. Complimentary methods must be developed to provide needed information and support to caregivers. The proposed research will measure and explain the impact of two computer-based support systems that meet caregiver needs and facilitate information exchange with clinicians. The system, CHESS (Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System) is a non-commercial computer system that provides patients with disease specific information, emotional support and skill building tools. In the expanded form to be tested in this study, CHESS with Caregiver Support (CGCHESS) will also provide the caregiver with more information, support and skills training related to palliative care. CGCHESS will be further enhanced to communicate essential patient and caregiver information to clinicians prior to a scheduled clinic visit and when patient symptoms exceed a threshold.

The investigators' primary hypothesis is that CGCHESS + Clinician Report (CR) will reduce caregiver burden more than CGCHESS because of the additional support caregivers and patients receive from clinicians who have access to the CHESS clinician report. Secondary analyses will study the mechanisms of the CHESS effect. Specifically the investigators anticipate that the CHESS effect on caregivers will be mediated by the CHESS effect on interaction patterns with clinicians, satisfaction with clinical visits and by the CHESS effect on four patient outcomes (quality of life, negative affect, average severity of nine common late-stage cancers).

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2004-08
• Study First Submitted: 2005-09-13
• Study First Submitted QC: 2005-09-13
• Study First Posted: 2005-09-21
• Primary Completion: 2008-04
• Study Completion: 2008-04
• Status Verified: 2012-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2012-03-16
• Last Update Posted: 2012-03-19

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 235

Inclusion Criteria

• Metastatic breast or prostate cancer patients and their primary caregivers

Exclusion Criteria

• Cannot be homeless

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
1	computer with internet	internet access and computer for 1 year
2	Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System	computer and Full CHESS

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Improve caregiver burden	every 2 months
Improve affect, coping, self-efficacy and information competence	every 2 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mechanisms of CHESS effects	every 2 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Wisconsin; 🇺🇸 Madison, Wisconsin, United States