Promoting Quality of Life Among Young Adult Cancer Survivors
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Cancer
- Sponsor
- Emory University
- Enrollment
- 57
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Adult Trait Hope Scale Score
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 7 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This study expands on a prior pilot study to refine the intervention messaging to focus on goal-oriented thinking, include a coach, and extend the intervention to a larger sample of young adult cancer survivors (aged 18-39 years) recruited from two National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers (Emory's Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta; University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center in Lexington). Participants will be randomly assigned (stratified by age and sex) to one of the 8-week treatment conditions in a 2:1 ratio (2 to intervention: 1 to attention control).
Detailed Description
Young adulthood is a critical time for negotiating several life transitions and establishing and pursuing important life goals. Unfortunately, a cancer diagnosis disrupts this period of life for more than 60,000 people annually in the U.S. Compared to those without a history of cancer, young adult cancer survivors report poorer mental and physical health; moreover, they report significantly greater disruption in their goal pursuits than cancer survivors diagnosed at a later age. However, this high-risk group has been underserved and understudied, particularly in terms of intervention research to address these sequelae. Hope, a positive psychology construct that taps the ways in which people choose and pursue goals, is particularly relevant to this population. Additionally, higher hope is related to engaging in health promoting behaviors and living healthier lifestyles, which reduces risk of disease and adverse late effects and ultimately increase quality of life (QOL). The research team has pioneered a app-based behavioral intervention called Achieving Wellness After Kancer in Early life (AWAKE), aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles - specifically targeting mental health and positive health behaviors - among young adult cancer survivors. The proposed study will refine the intervention messaging to focus on goal-oriented thinking, include a coach, and extend the prior pilot work to a larger sample of young adult cancer survivors (aged 18-39 years) recruited from two NCI-designated cancer centers (Emory's Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta; University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center in Lexington). In this randomized controlled trial, recipients of the AWAKE intervention will be compared to an attention control group. The specific aims of this study are to: Aim 1. Test the feasibility and acceptability of AWAKE among intervention participants. The primary feasibility indicators are participation rates and retention rates. The primary acceptability indicators are use of and satisfaction with intervention components. Aim 2. Estimate effect sizes of AWAKE vs. control at 2 and 6 months to inform sample size calculations for the subsequent efficacy trial. The primary outcome is changes in hope, per the Trait Hope Scale. The secondary outcome is changes in quality of life, per the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G).
Investigators
Carla Berg
Associate Professor
Emory University
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Aged 18 to 39, as of January 15th, 2017
- •Speak English
- •Be within two years of cancer treatment completion (since January 15th, 2015)
- •Have a functioning smartphone and reliable internet access
- •Be willing to complete study activities
Exclusion Criteria
- •Cancer recurrence since treatment completion
- •Diagnosis of a central nervous system cancer (to ensure requisite mental/emotional functioning to engage in the program)
- •Diagnosis of a thyroid cancer
- •History of alcohol or drug dependency in the past year, or psychosis, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder
- •In hospice
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Adult Trait Hope Scale Score
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 2, Month 6
The Adult Trait Hope Scale is a 12-item survey where respondents indicate how true a statement is on a scale of 1 (definitely false) to 8 (definitely true). The Hope Scale includes two subscales of four items each plus four distracter items. Higher scores on the Pathways subscale (example question: "I can think of many ways to get out of a jam") indicate higher levels of pathways thinking. Higher scores on the Agency subscale (example question: "I energetically pursue my goals") indicate higher levels of agency thinking. The subscales will be summed to obtain a total hope score. Total scores can range from 8 to 64 with higher scores indicating higher levels of hope.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) Score(Baseline, Month 2, Month 6)
- Change in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G) Score(Baseline, Month 2, Month 6)