Support for Cancer Patients Awaiting News

NCT ID: NCT06199570

Last Updated: 2025-08-28

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-05-01

Study Completion Date

2026-12-30

Brief Summary

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This is a behavioral trial study to pilot test a stress management intervention for people with cancer who are undergoing routine cancer scans. The study will involve two pilot testing phases. Initial feasibility will be determined in an Open Trial phase, to inform any needed revisions to the intervention and/or protocol prior to a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial phase. The Open Trial phase is an unblinded, single-site, single-arm open trial (n=10). The Pilot randomized clinical trial (RCT) phase is an unblinded, single-site, feasibility pilot randomized controlled trial (n=50).

Detailed Description

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Cancer patients repeatedly undergo routine scans that inform their disease status and treatment. While awaiting the results, anxiety and uncertainty are elevated, which can negatively impact quality of life. Evidence-based stress management strategies have the potential to be useful during this unique time period, but require tailoring for this population and context.

The goal of this study is to pilot test an adapted stress management program to help patients manage their anxiety while awaiting scan results. The program is a behavioral intervention that includes psychoeducation and stress management activities, delivered via a web platform to promote dissemination. In the Open Trial phase, the program will be field tested in a single-arm trial, using feedback to refine materials and procedures as needed before formal piloting. In the Pilot RCT phase, a small RCT will be conducted to test the intervention's feasibility and acceptability and to examine preliminary effects on anxiety and other secondary outcomes.

Conditions

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Lung Cancer

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Open Trial phase: Unblinded, single-site, single-arm open trial (n=10). Pilot RCT phase: Unblinded, single-site, feasibility pilot randomized controlled trial (n=50; adapted stress management program vs. enhanced usual care).
Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Adapted Stress Management Program

The behavioral intervention consists of 3 brief coaching sessions delivered by a trained research interventionist and program modules consisting of psychoeducation and stress management skill activities/practice. They will also be provided with a list of mental health resources and crisis line information for use if needed.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Adapted Stress Management Program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive a 15-minute orientation session in-person or remotely to introduce the program and to receive the study materials, including the instructional sheet, small booklet, and study tablet that will be used to promote practice of stress management exercises and for completing study assessments. They will complete self-guided web modules with stress management activities/skills on tablet devices, and will rate the modules' acceptability and perceived helpfulness. After visiting each module, they will be asked to practice at least one skill daily. In a second coaching session, they will be reminded about the skills, make a plan for using them, and troubleshoot questions about using the materials. Participants will attend scans and scan result appointments with their oncologist as usual. In a third coaching session, the stress management plan will be revisited for new concerns.

Enhanced Usual Care

Those randomized to enhanced usual care in the pilot RCT (n=25) will receive a resource list, tablet for study assessments, and reminder calls, but will not receive the program modules. They will also be provided with a list of mental health resources and crisis line information for use if needed.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Enhanced Usual Care

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Enhanced usual care includes a resource list, tablet for study assessments, and reminder calls.

Interventions

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Adapted Stress Management Program

Participants will receive a 15-minute orientation session in-person or remotely to introduce the program and to receive the study materials, including the instructional sheet, small booklet, and study tablet that will be used to promote practice of stress management exercises and for completing study assessments. They will complete self-guided web modules with stress management activities/skills on tablet devices, and will rate the modules' acceptability and perceived helpfulness. After visiting each module, they will be asked to practice at least one skill daily. In a second coaching session, they will be reminded about the skills, make a plan for using them, and troubleshoot questions about using the materials. Participants will attend scans and scan result appointments with their oncologist as usual. In a third coaching session, the stress management plan will be revisited for new concerns.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Enhanced Usual Care

Enhanced usual care includes a resource list, tablet for study assessments, and reminder calls.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Adult (ages 18 and older)
2. Comfortable speaking, reading, and writing English without an interpreter
3. Established diagnosis of lung cancer (3a. Open Trial phase only: Stage III-IV lung cancer or extensive stage small cell lung cancer)
4. ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance status of 0 to 2
5. Receiving ongoing care from collaborating clinics with regular scans
6. Receiving systemic treatment for lung cancer
7. Endorse appointment- or scan-related stress on 4-item screen (using a modified Distress Thermometer item, a Fear of Progression scale item, an Impact of Events scale item, and an item from our prior study)
8. Willingness to use the study website

Exclusion Criteria

1. Moderate-to-severe cognitive impairment (per dementia diagnosis or cognitive screen)
2. Requires an interpreter for medical visits
3. Severe psychiatric illness (psychiatric hospitalization in the past year, or substance use disorder, bipolar disorder, or psychosis diagnosis)
4. Currently enrolled in hospice
5. Unable to complete study activities per oncology provider's judgment (e.g., due to fatigue)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Cancer Institute (NCI)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Hackensack Meridian Health

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Heather Derry-Vick, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hackensack Meridian Health

Locations

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Amanda Khoudary

Hackensack, New Jersey, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Amanda Khoudary, BA

Role: CONTACT

2018803445

Facility Contacts

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Amanda Khoudary

Role: primary

201-880-3445

References

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Other Identifiers

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R00CA245488

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

Pro2022-0930

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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