The SNAP Tool for Head and Neck Cancer Survivor-Caregiver Dyads

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Head and Neck Cancer; Survivorship; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Caregiver Burden
• Interventions: Behavioral: Survivorship Needs Assessment Planning (SNAP) tool

• Registration Number: NCT05811936
• Lead Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina

Brief Summary

In this randomized behavioral intervention, head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors and their caregivers (N=176 HNC survivor-caregiver dyads) will be randomized to either Survivorship Needs Assessment Planning (SNAP) or Usual Care (UC) groups to examine the effects of SNAP on outcomes. SNAP includes two sessions with a needs assessment and tailored care plan and a supportive mobile app after completion of radiation to promote uptake of recommended medical and supportive care. The study aims to evaluate the effects of SNAP on symptom severity in patients and caregiver burden in caregivers. Secondary outcomes include psychological distress (anxiety and depression), healthcare utilization (receipt of recommended care) and unmet needs and self-efficacy in HNC survivor-caregiver dyads. Participants will complete surveys at baseline, 6 months, and 9 months post randomization with validated PROMs, and receive intervention modules at the end of radiation and month 3. Participants in the SNAP group will also receive mobile app support.

Detailed Description

The SNAP Intervention includes two care planning modules, a caregiver visit (module I) during the end of radiation treatment and a dyad-focused (survivor and caregiver) visit (module II) at 3 months. Each SNAP module includes 3 components including: 1) an in-clinic needs assessment, 2) a tailored care plan and 3) text-based e-monitoring at home. In both modules, a care plan is generated with algorithm-triggered messages and referrals to recommended care matched to endorsed concerns. Care plans are reviewed and barriers are addressed. Referrals are finalized with an Advanced Practice Provider (APP). SNAP Participants leave with a personalized binder including the survivorship care plan and referrals. SNAP Participants use an e-monitoring App and receive twice weekly engagement prompts for 6 weeks. Usual Care (UC) participants will receive caregiver education and dyadic survivorship education visit at the end of radiation treatment and 3-months post-randomization, respectively, with printed materials from the National Cancer Institute.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-03-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-03-31
• Study First Posted: 2023-04-13
• Study Start: 2023-08-23
• Status Verified: 2024-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-05-26
• Last Update Posted: 2024-05-29
• Primary Completion: 2026-05-31
• Study Completion: 2026-05-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 352

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age >18
2. Stage I-IV non-metastatic HNC (i.e., lip/oral cavity, nasopharynx, salivary gland, oropharynx, hypopharynx, paranasal sinus, larynx and cutaneous cancers)
3. Currently receiving radiation treatment (with/without surgery and/or concurrent chemotherapy) with curative intent
4. Able to nominate caregiver, the primary support person, also interested in participating

Caregiver Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age >18
2. Provide care for a loved one with stage I-IV HNC
3. Agrees to participate after being nominated

Patient

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients who do not read/understand English

2. Patients who are cognitively impaired and cannot complete interviews as judged by the referring health care provider

3. Patients concurrently diagnosed with and/or receiving treatment for a second "significant" primary cancer, except the following:

   • Excised and cured non-melanoma skin cancer
   • Carcinoma in situ of breast or cervix
   • Superficial bladder cancer
   • Stage 1 differentiated thyroid cancer that is resected or observed
   • pT1a/pT1b prostate cancer comprising <5% of resected tissue with normal prostate specific antigen (PSA) since resection
   • cT1a/cT1b prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy

Caregiver Exclusion Criteria:

1. Inability to read or understand English
2. Cognitively impaired and cannot complete interviews, as judged by the referring health care provider

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
SNAP	Survivorship Needs Assessment Planning (SNAP) tool	Caregiver- Survivor Dyads in this group will receive a two-session intervention spanning 3 months, with a caregiver module within 1-2 weeks of the end of RT and a dyadic module at 3 months. Each session will include a needs- assessment, a tailored care plan with a goal setting discussion, and referrals for unmet needs. Each session follows with a supportive mobile app for 6 weeks.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from baseline in Caregiver Burden at 9 months post randomization	Caregivers will be assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 9 months post randomization	Caregivers report the extent to which caregiving impacts time, responsibilities, and strain utilizing the Zarit Burden Inventory. Caregivers rate each item on a 5-point Likert scale (0=Never to 4=Always); higher scores (0-16) indicate greater burden. An increase in change from baseline to 6 week, 6 months or 9 months follow up visit would increased caregiver distress; likewise a decrease in change would indicate reduced caregiver distress. Cronbach's alphas in previous research range from 0.81-0.83.
Change from baseline in Symptom Severity in head and neck cancer survivors at 9 months post randomization	Survivors will be assessed at baseline, and at 6 months and 9 months post randomization	Symptom burden in survivors will be assessed with the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head and Neck Cancer Module (MDASI-HN) The MDASI -HN includes 13 core items and an additional 9 head and neck cancer module items which calculates a total score of symptom severity. The MDASI assesses the severity of symptoms at their worst in the last 24 hours on a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale, with 0 being "not present" and 10 being "as bad as you can imagine." Core items and module symptom items are averaged into a mean module severity. A higher score always indicates an increase in severity. A decrease in change from baseline to 9-month assessment indicates improvement of symptoms. Cronbach's alphas in previous research range from 0.88-0.92.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in from baseline Self-efficacy at 6 months in head and neck cancer Caregivers	Caregivers will be assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months, 9 months	Caregiver self-efficacy will be assessed with the 21-item Caregiver Inventory measure. Participants will rate the extent to which they feel confident in their abilities as a caregiver to manage medical information, care for their loved one with cancer, manage emotions and care for oneself on a 9 point response scale from not at all confident to totally confident. Higher scores reflect higher self-efficacy (Cronbach's alpha in previous research = 0.91).
Change in from baseline Self-efficacy at 6 months in head and neck cancer Survivors	Survivors will be assessed at baseline, 6 months, 9 months	Survivor self-efficacy will be assessed with the 12-item Communication and Attitudinal Self-Efficacy Scale (CASE) instrument. Participants will rate the extent to which they feel confident in understanding and participating in their care, maintaining a positive attitude, and seeking and obtaining information on a 4 point response scale from Strongly Disagree (1) to Strongly Agree (4). Higher scores reflect higher self-efficacy.
Change from baseline in Depression for Caregivers at 9 months post randomization	Caregivers will be assessed at baseline, 6 months and 9 months	Depression in Caregivers will be assessed with the PROMIS Depression- SF v1.0 form 8A. Respondents are asked how often in the past 7 days they have experienced specific depression symptoms, using a 5-point ordinal rating scale whereby 1= "Never," 5="Always." A higher score indicates higher depression. Raw score totals are converted to an item response theory-based T-scores. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10 with a range of 38.2 to 81.3. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean. A decrease in change from baseline to 9 month assessment indicates reduced depression. Cronbach's alphas in previous research = 0.97 for anxiety and depression.
Change from baseline in Anxiety for Caregivers at 9 months post randomization	Caregivers will be assessed at baseline, 6 months and 9 months	Anxiety in Caregivers will be assessed with the PROMIS Short Form v1.0 - Anxiety 8a. Respondents are asked how often in the past 7 days they have experienced specific anxiety symptoms, using a 5-point ordinal rating scale whereby 1= "Never," 5="Always." A higher score indicates higher anxiety. Raw score totals are converted to an item response theory-based T-scores. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10 with a range of 38.2 to 81.3. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean. A decrease in change from baseline to 9 month assessment indicates reduced anxiety. Cronbach's alphas in previous research = 0.97 for anxiety and depression.
Change from baseline in Depression for Survivors at 9 months post randomization	Survivors will be assessed at baseline, 6 months and 9 months	Depression in Survivors will be assessed with the PROMIS Depression- SF v1.0 form 8A . Respondents are asked how often in the past 7 days they have experienced specific depression symptoms, using a 5-point ordinal rating scale whereby 1= "Never," 5="Always." A higher score indicates higher depression. Raw score totals are converted to an item response theory-based T-scores. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10 with a range of 38.2 to 81.3. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean. A decrease in change from baseline to 9 month assessment indicates reduced depression. Cronbach's alphas in previous research = 0.97 for anxiety and depression.
Change from baseline in Anxiety for Survivors at 9 months post randomization	Survivors will be assessed at baseline, 6 months and 9 months	Anxiety in Survivors will be assessed with the PROMIS Short Form v1.0 - Anxiety 8a. Respondents are asked how often in the past 7 days they have experienced specific anxiety symptoms, using a 5-point ordinal rating scale whereby 1= "Never," 5="Always." A higher score indicates higher anxiety. Raw score totals are converted to an item response theory-based T-scores. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10 with a range of 38.2 to 81.3. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean. A decrease in change from baseline to 9 month assessment indicates reduced anxiety. Cronbach's alphas in previous research = 0.97 for anxiety and depression.
Change in Healthcare Utilization (HCU)/ receipt of recommended care at 6 months in head and neck cancer survivor-caregiver dyads.	Dyads (Survivor & Caregiver) will be assessed at baseline, 6 months and 9 months	Healthcare utilization (HCU) in survivors and caregivers is the receipt of recommended care assessed by self-report and chart review. HCU will be evaluated based on the number of completed referrals dived by the number of recommended medical or supportive care referrals. We will use count-based regression to model the logarithm of the expected number of completed referrals as a function of treatment group with an offset equal to the logarithm of the total number of patient referrals, and baseline covariate adjustment. Based on the fitted model, we will construct point and interval estimates of the rate of HCU for SNAP and UC (Usual Care) dyads. The significance of the intervention on HCU will be based on the statistical significance of the treatment effect parameter. Primary analyses will use chart review data and additional exploratory analyses will use self-reported data.
Change in from baseline Unmet Needs at 6 months in head and neck cancer Caregivers	Caregivers will be assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months, 9 months	Unmet needs will be assessed by the Cancer Survivor Partner Unmet Needs (CaSPUN) instrument. Respondents rate 30 items concerning whether they currently needed help with comprehensive care, information, quality of life, existential survivorship and relationship issues (yes or no). Total number of unmet needs will be calculated. Cronbach's alphas in previous research range from 0.93-0.94.
Change in from baseline Unmet Needs at 6 months in head and neck cancer Survivors	Survivors will be assessed at baseline, 6 months, 9 months	Unmet needs will be assessed by the Cancer Survivor Unmet Needs (CaSUN) instrument. Respondents rate 30 items concerning whether they currently needed help with comprehensive care, information, quality of life, existential survivorship and relationship issues (yes or no). Total number of unmet needs will be calculated. Cronbach's alphas in previous research range from 0.93-0.94.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Medical University of South Carolina; 🇺🇸 Charleston, South Carolina, United States