Skip to content

Innovative Approach to Reduce Lung Cancer Stigma

An Innovative Approach to Reduce Lung Cancer Stigma

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03750864
Enrollment
24
Registered
2018-11-23
Start date
2018-10-27
Completion date
2020-07-13
Last updated
2022-07-28

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Acceptance Processes, Lung Cancer, Lung Cancer Stigma, Stigma, Social, Stigmatization

Keywords

Lung cancer, Stigma, Lung cancer stigma, Acceptance and commitment therapy

Brief summary

This is a feasibility study examining the feasibility and acceptability of a novel psychotherapy intervention on lung cancer patients who are experiencing stigma.

Detailed description

Experiences of stigma (perception and internalization of negative appraisal and devaluation from others) are pervasive for lung cancer patients. Previous work has shown associations between lung cancer stigma and detriments in clinically relevant outcomes such as depression, lower quality of life, and reduced engagement in cancer care. The investigators previously developed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Lung Cancer Stigma (ACT-LCS) as a patient-focused intervention to reduce the self-blame, guilt and inhibited disclosure associated with lung cancer stigma. ACT-LCS is based in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a cognitive-behavioral treatment that promotes psychological flexibility through acceptance and valued direction. This is a feasibility study examining the feasibility and acceptability of ACT-LCS.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALACT-LCS Therapy

All participants in Stage 1, and those randomized to the intervention condition in Stage 2, will receive the Acceptance & Commitment Therapy for Lung Cancer Stigma (ACT-LCS) intervention. The ACT-LC intervention is designed to be delivered as 6 sessions of individual psychotherapy with a trained psychotherapist at a weekly or bimonthly rate, delivered either in person or over the phone. The treatment manual is based in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Therapists are instructed to begin treatment with Module 1. Modules 2-5 can then be administered in any order at the discretion of the therapist, based upon what the therapist thinks is most likely to be helpful to the patient. Module 6 is the final session of treatment.

Sponsors

University of Arizona
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Proficiency in English * Diagnosed with or treated for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) or Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) within the prior 12 months. * Scores of 37.5 on the Lung Cancer Stigma Inventory (LCSI) screening measure

Exclusion criteria

* Not proficient in English

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of individuals who consent to the intervention10 monthsThis measure will be calculated as a function of those eligible and approached who consented to the intervention. It will be utilized as a metric of feasibility and acceptability.
Number of sessions that each consented patient attended10 monthsThis measure will be calculated as a count of sessions that each consented participant attended. It will be utilized as a metric of acceptability of the intervention among consented participants.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026