None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This research aims to determine the feasibility and acceptability of an online program for carer fear of cancer recurrence, called Carer Conquer Fear (Carer-CF). Who is it for? This online program is for cancer carers, aged 18 years and over who are biologically, legally or emotionally related to an adult cancer patient or survivor who has been diagnosed with cancer or experienced a cancer recurrence in the past 5 years. Study details: Participants meeting the full eligibility criteria will be able to participate in the online study. A questionnaire will be completed before accessing the online program. A short introductory telephone call will be conducted one-on-one with a member of the research team to support participants to access and navigate the online program. The online program consists of 4 lessons which are completed weekly over a period of 4 weeks. A questionnaire will be completed online and a short telephone call will be conducted one-on-one with a member of the research team between lessons 2 and 3 to support program completion. Once participants have finished all lessons in the online program they will complete a questionnaire. One final study questionnaire will be completed 3 months after initial study enrolment. Participants will have the option to complete a telephone interview to provide feedback about the online program. Data will be collected about program uptake, engagement and attrition rates, change in carer fear of cancer recurrence levels, and acceptability, including program satisfaction and usability. This research provides the opportunity to test whether the online program is feasible and acceptable for cancer carers experiencing fears and worries about their family member's cancer coming back or progressing. This pilot study will provide important information facilitating future longer-term evaluation with the aim of reducing carer fear of cancer recurrence, improving quality of life and daily functioning.
Interventions
Carer Conquer Fear (Carer-CF) is an online contemporary Cognitive Behavioural Therapy intervention delivered via a secure web-based platform. This intervention will be delivered online using a digital story-telling approach to deliver content and includes activities and worksheets. An introductory telephone call will be conducted to assist participants with program access and a mid-way coaching call to facilitate program completion. The online program is divided into 4 lessons, which are complet
Carer Conquer Fear (Carer-CF) is an online contemporary Cognitive Behavioural Therapy intervention delivered via a secure web-based platform. This intervention will be delivered online using a digital story-telling approach to deliver content and includes activities and worksheets. An introductory telephone call will be conducted to assist participants with program access and a mid-way coaching call to facilitate program completion. The online program is divided into 4 lessons, which are completed over a 4-week period ( 1 lesson per week). Each lesson will take around 1 hour to complete. The lesson topics are: Lesson 1 Learning about fear of cancer recurrence: Information about how to complete the intervention, fear of cancer recurrence and introduction to attention training techniques activity. Lesson 2 Identifying values: Values clarification activity and goal setting. Lesson 3 Managing worry: Introduction to different strategies to help manage worry including detached mindfulness and worry postponement and how to practice these. Lesson 4 Communicating your concerns: Information about communicating with the person you care for and those around you, recognising the worry cycle and a reflection activity to create a new plan for managing worry going forward. Website analytics will be collected to monitor intervention adherence. This will include number of log-ins, time spent on each lesson, number of lessons completed and worksheet downloads.
Sponsors
University of Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Primary purpose
Treatment
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
(i) A person biologically, legally, or emotionally related to an adult cancer patient/ survivor who has been diagnosed, or experienced a cancer recurrence in the past 5 years (Note: we will not pose any restriction on patient/ survivor cancer type or stage). (ii) The person they care for was diagnosed with cancer as an adult (i.e., aged 18 years or older at diagnosis) (iii) Carer is aged 18 years or older (iv) Provides unpaid support to the person with cancer (v) Has sufficient English language skills to complete the intervention and/ or questionnaires (vi) Has access to the internet (vii) Willing to participate in the study (viii) Experiencing FCR (scoring 13 or higher on the FCRI-c severity sub-scale)
Exclusion criteria
(i) Under the age of 18 (ii) Providing care for a child with cancer (i.e., patient/ survivor is under the age of 18 years) (iii) Bereaved carers (iv) Caring for a person with a life expectancy of less than 6 months (v) Carers experiencing severe depression (i.e., scoring 20 or higher on the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item) (vi) Actively receiving psychological support for any mental health condition
Outcome results
None listed