Group Interventions for Breast Cancer Survivors

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to compare two types of groups for breast cancer survivors: a Meaning-Centered Group and a Discussion Group. Many breast cancer survivors seek help to deal with the emotional burden of having gone through the cancer experience. Participation in groups offering support often helps cancer survivors cope with stressors of life after having had cancer by giving them a place to express their feelings. The Meaning-Centered Group is intended to teach breast cancer survivors how to maintain or even increase a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives after treatment for cancer. The Discussion Group is intended to help breast cancer survivors cope by giving them a place to get support from other breast cancer survivors. The goal of this study is to compare the benefits of these two types of group approaches for breast cancer survivors. The study is also testing the benefits and feasibility of conducting the groups virtually using a telephone and computer.

Official Title
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Development of Group Interventions for Breast Cancer Survivors

Conditions
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Breast Cancer Survivor

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: manualized group intervention
* Behavioral: standardized, manualized group intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: History of non-metastatic breast cancer (DCIS or Stage I, II, or III) as recorded in the medical record at MSKCC by self-report, or by outside correspondence, including a study checklist signed by a physician for patients outside of MSKCC Post completion of treatment (may be on hormone therapy, such as Tamoxifen or monoclonal antibody, such as Herceptin or Pertuzumab)) for any type of cancer as confirmed by the medical record at MSKCC, by self-report, or by outside correspondence, including a study checklist signed by a physician for patients outside of MSKCC Age 18 or older Access to a telephone, computer (e.g. desktop, laptop, smartphone, tablet) and Internet For Phase 2 only: A score of ≥ to 4 on the Distress Thermometer (DT) and indication that this distress is related in some way to the patient's breast cancer or survivorship If taking medication for mood, anxiety, depression, thoughts, sensory experiences such as hallucinations, or sleep, stable and consistent enough in dosage and use of that medication so as to not result in a clinically significant change as determined by the study PI/co-PI or, confirmed by reports in the medical record at MSKCC, by selfreport, or by outside correspondence, including a study checklist signed by a physician for patients outside of MSKCC Did not participate in Phase 1 Exclusion Criteria: Evidence of or treatment metastatic disease Significant psychiatric or cognitive disturbance sufficient, in the investigator's judgment, to preclude providing informed consent or participating in the groups (i.e., acute psychiatric symptoms which require individual treatment).

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

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: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Meaning-Centered Group for Breast Cancer Survivors (MCG-BCS)<br> | Behavioral: manualized group intervention<br>* MCG-BCS manual outlines 8 approximately, 90-minute modules: 1) Concepts & Sources of Meaning; 2) Identity, Cancer Survivorship, & Meaning; 3) Historical Sources of Meaning: Past Legacy; 4) Historical Sources of Meaning: Present & Future Legacy; 5) Attitudinal Sources of Meaning: Encountering Life's Limitations; 6) Creative Sources of Meaning: Creativity & Responsibility; 7) Experiential Sources of Meaning: Connecting with Life via Love, Beauty, & Humor; and 8) Transitions: Reflections & Hopes for the Future.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Discussion Group (DG)<br> | Behavioral: standardized, manualized group intervention<br>* DG is a standardized, manualized group developed by the MSKCC Psychiatry Service and utilized in a similar form in our completed and ongoing RCTs of MCGP. Based on models described by Rogers and Bloch, the essential components include reassurance, explanation, education, encouragement, and permission for expression. The process emphasizes Rogerian concepts (e.g., empathic understanding) and avoids techniques that are not exclusively supportive. The content focuses on education about here-and-now topics relevant to BCS (e.g., maintaining and eliciting social support, financial strains, return to work, physical symptom management), allowing emotional expression and discussion of difficult topics.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| feasibility as measured by the proportion of patients enrolled who complete 4 out of 8 modules, which should not be not lower than 40%. |  | 2 years | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Interventions, Meaning-Centered Group (MCG), Discussion Group (DG), Modules, Sessions, 12-291