Emotion and Symptom-Focused Engagement (EASE) for Caregivers

NCT ID: NCT06367556

Last Updated: 2025-12-17

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

306 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-02-14

Study Completion Date

2028-10-01

Brief Summary

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The goal of this Phase III randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel psychotherapeutic intervention called Emotion and Symptom-focused Engagement (EASE) in parents caring for a child or adolescent with cancer. The main question it aims to answer is:

\- Is EASE plus usual care associated with less severe traumatic stress symptoms over six months, measured by area under the curve, when compared to usual care alone in the parents of children diagnosed with cancer in the preceding six months?

For the primary outcome analysis, area under the curve will be calculated for each participant. The statistical significance of the difference between arms will also be evaluated. Participants in both groups will complete questionnaires package at enrolment, and 4, 8, and 12 weeks, and 6 months after enrolment. They will also be invited to participate in optional qualitative interviews to better understand their experience.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders Pediatric Cancer Caregiver Burden

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors
Quantitative outcome assessors and data analysts will be blinded to participant treatment group. Blinding is not possible for trial participants, intervention providers, or pediatric oncology teams, as assignment cannot be hidden from these individuals.

Study Groups

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Treatment

Participants randomized to the intervention group will receive the Emotion and Symptom-focused Engagement (EASE) intervention and usual care. EASE consists of 8-12 psychotherapeutic sessions (\~30-60 minutes each) delivered by a trained mental health clinician over 12 weeks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Emotion and Symptom-Focused Engagement (EASE)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

EASE sessions are directed to provide relational support, affect regulation, and problem-solving related to cancer in the child, to changes in spousal, family, and other relationships, and to the burden of multiple individual and family responsibilities.

Usual Care

Participants randomized to the control group will receive usual care.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Emotion and Symptom-Focused Engagement (EASE)

EASE sessions are directed to provide relational support, affect regulation, and problem-solving related to cancer in the child, to changes in spousal, family, and other relationships, and to the burden of multiple individual and family responsibilities.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Self-identified primary family caregiver/guardian (i.e., parent assuming the majority of care activities) of a child: i) \<18yo; ii) diagnosed with a new or relapsed life-threatening cancer within the preceding six months (disease-type eligibility per the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario Networked Information System); and iii) receiving active cancer therapy;
* Age ≥18 years; and,
* Able to complete outcome measures and engage in EASE in English, which need not be their first language.

Exclusion Criteria

* Impairment in cognitive functioning or communication that would preclude participation in EASE sessions or outcome measure completion, as determined by the research team;
* Receiving formal ongoing psychotherapy at the time of recruitment;
* Active suicidal intention, based on an item in the Distress Assessment and Response Tool (DART) that has been widely used in suicidal intention screening in cancer; or,
* Child not expected to survive past the duration of trial, as determined by the child's medical team.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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The Hospital for Sick Children

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

University Health Network, Toronto

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Gary Rodin Research Team

Senior Scientist

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Princess Margaret Cancer Centre - University Health Network

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

The Hospital for Sick Children

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Canada

Central Contacts

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Dr. Lindsay Jibb, RN, PhD

Role: CONTACT

416-813-7654 ext. 309160

Elham Hashemi, MA

Role: CONTACT

416-813-7654 ext. 309043

Facility Contacts

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Lindsay Jibb, RN, PhD

Role: primary

416-813-7654 x309160

Other Identifiers

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4542

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id