stress management intervention among breast and gynecologic cancer patients in viet nam

Conditions: Breast Cancer; Gynecologic Cancer

Summary: psychological distress is common among vietnamese cancer patients but often underestimated and not detected by professionals due to lack of time and overload of clinical work. currently no established, evidence-based intervention exists to help address the mental health needs of cancer patients in viet nam besides the 'stronger together' peer mentoring intervention model that the investigators piloted in 2021-2023. the goal of this 2-arm, parallel, single-blind randomized controlled trial (rct) is to pilot and evaluate the vietnamese self help plus (vsh+) stress management intervention among breast and gynecologic cancer patients in viet nam. aim 1- the investigators pilot the adapted vsh+ intervention. after recruitment and screening, participants are randomized into either the intervention (vsh+) or enhanced usual care (euc) study arms. participants are invited to attend an in-person informational session (is) specific to their study arm, where informed consent is obtained. aim 2- the investigators assess the potential effectiveness of the vsh+ intervention. quantitative surveys of study outcomes measures are administered at three timepoints: t0 (baseline, in-person, during info-sessions); t1 (1-2 weeks post-intervention, via phone); and t2 (3 months post-intervention, via phone). aim 3- the investigators conduct a qualitative process evaluation, via in-depth interview (idis) and focus group discussions (fgds), to assess the acceptability and feasibility implementing and scaling up the vsh+ intervention model. satisfaction surveys will be administered during vsh+ sessions and in-depth interviews (idis) will be conducted following the conclusion of the intervention. idis wil also be conducted with facilitators, in addition to evaluation surveys during vsh+ sessions and supportive supervision sessions. between t1 and t2, the investigators will conduct idis with healthcare workers and focus group discussions with caregivers.


Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * aged 18 years or older * have a clinician-confirmed diagnosis within the past 12 months of first-time breast and/or gynecologic cancer (e.g., cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, vulvar) in stages i-iii * currently or will receive treatment with curative intent * score less than 8 on the national comprehensive cancer network (nccn) distress thermometer, indicating low to moderate levels of distress * score less than 15 on the patient health questionnaire-9 items (phq-9, indicating low to moderate levels of depression exclusion criteria: * selected '2 several days' or '3 almost everyday' on phq9 item #9, indicating indicating imminent risk of suicide * have severe chronic diseases (e.g., coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd), chronic renal failure), at the discretion of the treating clinician or study investigator * people with a risk for psychosis, mania, and alcohol abuse, based on screening questions commonly used in the field * cannot attend the intervention activities at the hospital during the proposed intervention period

Keywords: self-help plus (sh+) stress management viet nam world health organization