prepare to care, a supported self-management intervention for head and neck cancer caregivershead and neck cancer

Conditions: Caregiver; Malignant Head and Neck Neoplasm; Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Salivary Gland Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage I Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage I Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage I Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage I Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage II Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage II Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage II Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage II Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage III Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage III Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage III Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage III Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IV Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IV Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IV Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IV Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVA Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVA Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVA Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVA Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVB Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVB Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVB Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVB Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVC Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVC Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVC Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVC Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Oropharyngeal SCC; Recurrent Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Summary: this pilot clinical trial studies how well prepare to care kit works in improving caregiver support in patients with stage i-iv head and neck cancer that is new or has come back. prepare to care kit may increase knowledge about head and neck cancer and enhance stress-management skills.

primary objectives: i. to assess feasibility (accrual, participation, and retention) and acceptability of a supported self-management intervention for psycho-education and stress management skills building designed for informal caregivers (intervention group n=20; waitlist control group, n=20) of head and neck cancer (hnc) patients undergoing radiotherapy (rt). ii. to obtain preliminary data on caregiver intermediate (self-efficacy for \[a\] coping with cancer and \[b\] abbreviated progressive muscle relaxation) and outcome variables (burden, psychological distress, quality of life) in intervention caregivers and waitlist control caregivers at the start of radiation (t1), end of radiation (t2), and 6-weeks post-radiation (t3). iii. to compare intermediate (self-efficacy for (a) coping with cancer and (b) abbreviated progressive muscle relaxation) and outcome variables (burden, psychological distress, quality of life) between intervention caregivers and waitlist control caregivers at t1, t2, and t3. iv. to obtain preliminary data on caregiver cortisol response (cortisol slope, cortisol awakening outline: patients are randomized to 1 of 2 groups. group i: caregivers watch introduction video on a digital video disc (dvd) over 10 minutes at baseline. caregivers receive prepare to care kit including 8 workbook modules and complete at least 1 module over 30-45 minutes each week. caregivers also attend interventionist session over 10-30 minutes weekly. group ii: caregivers receive educational intervention as in group i but do not attend interventionist sessions.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: caregivers: * providing the majority of the informal (unpaid) care during radiation therapy for a patient meeting inclusion criteria and participating in study care-recipients: * has a new or recurrent american joint committee on cancer (ajcc) stage i-iv squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract (including lip/oral cavity, nasopharynx, salivary gland, oropharynx, hypopharynx, paranasal sinus, and larynx cancers) * has planned external beam radiotherapy (+/- chemotherapy) for 6-7 weeks * has an informal (unpaid) caregiver during radiation therapy who is participating in study exclusion criteria: * caregivers: has a current cancer diagnosis * caregivers: cannot read/communicate in english * caregivers: have an endocrine disorder (e.g., diabetes and thyroid disorders), or is currently taking a steroid based medication will not be eligible to participate in the saliva portion of the study * care-recipients: cannot read/communicate in english