CHESS Caregivers Study: Web-based Support for Informal Caregivers in Cancer

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Web-Based Support for Informal Caregivers in Cancer Brief Summary (including hypothesis): Informal caregivers need information, skills and emotional support to address physical, spiritual, and emotional needs associated with chronic illnesses including late stage cancer. Unfortunately, current conditions force clinicians to reduce their interaction time with patients and informal caregivers. Complimentary methods must be developed to provide needed information and support to caregivers. The proposed research will measure and explain the impact of two computer-based support systems that meet caregiver needs and facilitate information exchange with clinicians. The system, CHESS (Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System) is a non-commercial computer system that provides patients with disease specific information, emotional support and skill building tools. In the expanded form to be tested in this study, CHESS with Caregiver Support (CGCHESS) will also provide the caregiver with more information, support and skills training related to palliative care. CGCHESS will be further enhanced to communicate essential patient and caregiver information to clinicians prior to a scheduled clinic visit and when patient symptoms exceed a threshold. The investigators' primary hypothesis is that CGCHESS + Clinician Report (CR) will reduce caregiver burden more than CGCHESS because of the additional support caregivers and patients receive from clinicians who have access to the CHESS clinician report. Secondary analyses will study the mechanisms of the CHESS effect. Specifically the investigators anticipate that the CHESS effect on caregivers will be mediated by the CHESS effect on interaction patterns with clinicians, satisfaction with clinical visits and by the CHESS effect on four patient outcomes (quality of life, negative affect, average severity of nine common late-stage cancers).

Official Title
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Web-based Support for Informal Caregivers in Cancer

Conditions
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Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System
* Behavioral: computer with internet


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Metastatic breast or prostate cancer patients and their primary caregivers Exclusion Criteria: Cannot be homeless

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: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: 1<br>internet access and computer for 1 year | Behavioral: computer with internet<br>* computer with internet use x 1 year<br>|
| Experimental: 2<br>computer and Full CHESS | Behavioral: Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System<br>* Full CHESS<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Improve caregiver burden |  | every 2 months | 
| Improve affect, coping, self-efficacy and information competence |  | every 2 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mechanisms of CHESS effects |  | every 2 months |