Cancer, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Conditions
Keywords
caregivers, cancer, emotion, protective buffering
Brief summary
This study seeks to test a brief psychological intervention for spousal caregivers of cancer patients (specifically, hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients), persons known to experience emotional distress.
Detailed description
This project focuses on spousal caregivers (CGs) of hematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors - persons known to report elevated levels of distress as compared to both norms and their patient counterparts. Specific Aims are to: (1) Determine, via experimental manipulation, whether or not CGs of hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients engage in protective buffering, a coping mechanism whereby partners shield patients from illness-related concerns or worries, (2) Examine synchrony or lack thereof, desynchrony, among subjective, expressive and biologic indicators of emotion among spousal CGs, and (3) Test the feasibility and implementation of an emotional expression (EE) exercise designed to enhance psychological and immune functioning among spousal CGs.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALEmotional expression
Caregivers are given the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings regarding the patient's transplant and their role as caregiver
Sponsors
University of Washington
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* patients and partners at least 21 years of age * patients and partners English speaking * patients about to receive a hematopoietic stem cell transplant * patients married or in a committed, cohabiting, heterosexual or homosexual relationship * caregivers in a married or committed, cohabiting, heterosexual or homosexual relationship with the patient * caregivers present at the transplant site and planning to remain so for at least one month
Exclusion criteria
* patient major psychiatric disorder * caregiver presence or history of a neurologic disorder
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Self-reported mental and physical health as measured by the Short Form-36 Health Survey | baseline, 1-month follow-up, and 4-month follow-up |
| Marital satisfaction as measured by the Dyadic Adjustment Scale | pre-transplant, baseline, 1-month follow-up, and 4-month follow-up |
| Self- and partner-reported protective buffering as measured by the Protective Buffering Scale | pre-transplant, baseline, 1-month follow-up, and 4-month follow-up |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Emotional experience as assessed by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule | During intervention/ disclosure sessions |
| Galvanic skin response (physiological indicator of emotion) | During intervention/ disclosure sessions |
| Emotional expression (facial expression and words uttered) | During intervention/ disclosure sessions |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed