Cancer
Conditions
Keywords
cancer, cancer survivors, internet, depression, anxiety
Brief summary
This study will develop and examine the effectiveness of an intervention that utilizes technology to improve cancer survivors' access to mental health care and increase their ability to manage the stressors involved in cancer survivorship. The intervention, referred to as Project Onward, uses an interactive website and an online social network. The purpose of this study is to pilot a novel intervention that can reduce costs, examine methods to improve adherence to internet based treatment and overcome numerous barriers to treatment for mental health concerns.
Detailed description
Nearly 65% of those with cancer diagnoses will survive for at least 5 years, with approximately 10.5 million cancer survivors in the United States. The time of transition for cancer patients, from active treatment to survivorship, has been identified as a time of high risk for depression and anxiety. Cancer survivors experience higher rates of anxiety and depression than those without a cancer history. Research has identified fear of recurrence, perceived loss of support, and social pressure to resume a normal life, among other phenomena, as sources for this emotional distress. However, only about 20% of all patients referred for psychotherapy ever enter treatment and of those who initiate treatment, nearly half drop out before completion. This suggests that there are significant barriers to receiving care. These barriers may be even higher for cancer survivors struggling with issues related to re-entry, such as returning to work, resuming household responsibilities and managing residual symptoms such as fatigue or pain. The internet promises to provide inexpensive access to treatment at any time of the day or night. Unfortunately, the potential for internet delivered services has not been realized. Studies examining treatments that simply provide access to an internet site commonly result in very high dropout after the first site visit, and typically little or no improvement target symptoms. A variety of methods to improve responses to internet interventions have been examined. In general, e-mail support improves adherence and telephone support can improve adherence even more. Another type of support that has only begun to be investigated is the use of social networks to help maintain adherence. This intervention will use an online social network, to increase adherence and promote the use of the website and the skills it teaches.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALProject Onward website + 16 person social network
The website will include 8 weeks of Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy combined with discussion and support from a group of up to 16 other cancer survivors.
BEHAVIORALProject Onward website + 8 person social network
The website will include 8 weeks of Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy combined with discussion and support from a group of up to 8 other cancer survivors.
Sponsors
Northwestern University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
19 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Any cancer diagnosis. * Has completed treatment for cancer and is currently in full remission. * ECOG performance Status of \< 3. * Has a telephone, e-mail account, computer, and broadband access to the Internet. * Has familiarity with using the Internet that allows for adequate navigation of website. * Is able to speak and read English. * Is at least 19 years of age. * Is able to give informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Has visual impairment that would prevent use of the website and completion of assessment materials. * Diagnosis of basal or squamous cell skin cancers.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Depression, as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) | Measured at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks |
| Anxiety, as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) | Measured at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Website utilization (e.g., number of logins, average visit length, total time spent on the site, number of exercises completed) | From baseline through 12 weeks |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed