Partner-Assisted Emotional Disclosure for GI Cancer
- Conditions
- Cancer of the GI System-stages II III and IV
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Partner-assisted emotional disclosureBehavioral: Cancer Education
- Registration Number
- NCT00734513
- Lead Sponsor
- Duke University
- Brief Summary
The long-range goal of this research is to develop better ways of helping GI cancer patients and their caregivers cope more effectively with the demands of the disease. The study is designed to test the hypothesis that a partner-assisted emotional disclosure intervention will be more effective in enhancing patient' psychological adjustment than a cancer education condition.
- Detailed Description
The diagnosis and treatment of GI cancer is a traumatic and life-altering event. Many patients with GI cancer experience significant emotional distress and disruptions in their social relationships as well as multiple physical symptoms and limitations in physical activities. There is evidence that cancer patients who are able to confide their feelings and concerns about the cancer experience with supportive others, particularly their partners, fare better. patients who are able to discuss cancer openly with their partners report fewer emotional and physical complaints, and higher levels of self-esteem and perceived control. However, there are a number of barriers that often inhibit discussion of cancer-related feelings. The proposed study will examine the effect of a new partner-assisted emotional disclosure (ED) protocol for patients with GI cancer.
In this study, 200 patients diagnosed with GI cancer and their partners will be recruited to participate. The couples will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: 1) partner-assisted emotional disclosure, or 2) cancer education. Assessment measures will be collected at evaluations conducted before and after treatment and at 8 weeks post treatment. All evaluations will be conducted over the phone. Information will also be collected from the physician and/or the patient's medical record at each of the three evaluations. Audiotapes of the partner-assisted emotional disclosure sessions will be transcribed and 10-minute segments will be randomly selected and analyzed to assess the extent to which patients express emotions and partners verbally reflect the partner's feeling in an empathic manner.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 300
- cancer of the GI system (esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, or colorectal; Stage II, III or IV), a life-expectancy of at least 6 months, living with a spouse or intimate partner in a committed relationship, English speaking, and an identified medical oncologist.
- None other than absence of inclusion criteria specified above
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description 1 Partner-assisted emotional disclosure Partner-assisted Emotional Disclosure 2 Cancer Education Cancer Education
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Patient's psychological adjustment Immediately after treatment and 8 weeks after completion of treatment
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Communication quality between the patient and partner (i.e.level of disclosure, helpfulness of disclosure, and perceived empathy from the partner, and decreased partner avoidance and criticism). Immediately after treatment and 8 weeks after completion of treatment Patient's physical and functional well-being Immediately after treatment and 8 weeks after completion of treatment Partners' psychological well-being and caregiver strain Immediately after treatment and 8 weeks after completion of treatment Gender and marital satisfaction as moderators of the effects of partner-assisted ED. Immediately after treatment and 8 weeks after completion of treatment
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Duke University Medical Center
🇺🇸Durham, North Carolina, United States