Enhancing Coping Skills in Patients With Cancer

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Approximately 30% of all patients with cancer report levels of psychological distress indicative of the need for psychological intervention. Research suggests that learning more adaptive coping strategies improves psychological adjustment to cancer. It is imperative to develop cost-efficient, feasible psychosocial interventions. The aim is to test the efficacy of the self administered format of a psycho-educational intervention (NUCARE) in reducing distress and enhancing adaptive coping strategies for cancer patients. It is hypothesized that: patients would show significant reductions in distress (i.e., depression and anxiety) over the 6-week treatment period, and that treatment would produce superior results compared to wait-list; patients would maintain or even increase their improvement up to 3 months following treatment. the treatment would enhance more adaptive coping strategies. greater self-reported adherence to the treatment/homework would be associated with symptom improvement, more autonomous self-regulation and higher perceived competence for adhering to the coping intervention program.

Official Title
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Enhancing Coping Skills in Patients With Cancer - a Randomized Controlled Study

Conditions
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Cancer

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Self administered coping intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 18+ years of age, able to read English, a cancer patient presenting at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) interested in participating, willing to receive minimal therapist contact (by telephone) and self administered therapy, able to give their own consent. Exclusion Criteria: currently receiving psychological/psychiatric treatment/counselling, indicate at the time of recruitment that they intend to seek psychological treatment elsewhere during the study period, a history of psychosis or bipolar disorder, substance abuse/dependence in last 6 months, taking psychotropic medication with altering dosages in the past 3 months.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Immediate Intervention Treatment<br> | Other: Self administered coping intervention<br>* The self administered coping intervention (i.e. NUCARE workbook) aims to teach individuals how to cope with their cancer. The intervention embraces two major areas: (i) the enhancement of a sense of personal control; and (ii) the learning of emotional and instrumental coping responses. The approach emphasizes training in problem-solving, relaxation techniques, cognitive coping skills, goal setting, communication, social support and lifestyle factors. The didactic material of the Nucare program is comprised of a workbook containing 12 chapters addressing the above mentioned aspects.<br>|
| Experimental: Wait list<br> | Other: Self administered coping intervention<br>* The self administered coping intervention (i.e. NUCARE workbook) aims to teach individuals how to cope with their cancer. The intervention embraces two major areas: (i) the enhancement of a sense of personal control; and (ii) the learning of emotional and instrumental coping responses. The approach emphasizes training in problem-solving, relaxation techniques, cognitive coping skills, goal setting, communication, social support and lifestyle factors. The didactic material of the Nucare program is comprised of a workbook containing 12 chapters addressing the above mentioned aspects.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in The Health Education Impact Questionnaire from pre to post intervention, at 6 weeks post intervention, and 3 months post intervention |  | pre-intervention (week 0), post intervention (week 6), 6 weeks post intervention, 3 months post intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in coping strategies & distress from pre to post intervention, at 6 weeks post intervention, and 3 months post intervention | Measured with The Ways of Coping Questionnaire - Cancer Version scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale | pre-intervention (week 0), post intervention (week 6), 6 week post intervention, 3 month post intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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coping, psychological distress, self-administered intervention