Cancer Survivorship, Loneliness
Conditions
Brief summary
Loneliness, which is the perceived lack of social support and connection, has increased substantially in the past decade and is adversely affecting the health and wellbeing of cancer survivors. The study seeks to test an intervention that builds on the principles of social prescribing, and targets loneliness to determine if it improves overall wellness and quality of life among cancer survivors.
Detailed description
Our primary study question for our pilot is: "Is it feasible to test a social prescribing intervention adapted to the unique needs of cancer survivors?" The team will conduct a pilot study that will adapt and test the feasibility of implementing a social prescribing intervention to connect participants with social opportunities and develop supportive social networks. Specific aims: 1. To adapt a social prescribing loneliness intervention for adult cancer survivors 2. To assess the feasibility of implementing a social prescribing intervention to address loneliness in adult cancer survivors in a 2-arm RCT
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSocial Prescribing Group
Those in the Social Navigation intervention group will meet with the facilitator through a virtual visit (HIPAA-compliant videoconferencing or phone call based on patient preference) over the course of 9 weeks. Each virtual visit will last approximately 60 minutes. During the group intake visit, the facilitator will guide participants to complete an inventory of the participant's existing social network, former social network, and interests. Using this, in the second visit, the facilitator will work with the participants one-on-one to develop an action plan to promote, establish or re-establish social connections. The action plan will be referenced and refined throughout the course of the following 7 weeks. They will suggest specific social activities and connect patients to resources such as, community-based organizations or local social groups matched to individual participant interest to assist with social connection.
BEHAVIORALUsual Care
Those randomized to the Usual Care group will receive usual care from their primary care clinician. At the conclusion of the study (after the final outcomes are collected), they will be offered a list of possible community-based organizations for social connection.
Sponsors
University of Washington
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* 18 years of age or older * English-speaking * A score greater or equal to 6 on the UCLA Loneliness 3-item Scale * Cancer survivor with a cancer diagnosis
Exclusion criteria
* Are on palliative care or live in a controlled setting (i.e., assisted living, nursing home or inpatient treatment facility) * Have an upcoming scheduled surgery * Severe cognitive impairment or active psychosis
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Loneliness | Baseline, 9 Weeks, 2 Month Follow Up | The primary outcome is to see changes in loneliness using the University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Version 3 (UCLA). It contains 20 questions that ask about loneliness-related experiences. Loneliness score range 0-80 with 80 indicating a maximum value and severe loneliness. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Social Connection | Baseline, 9 Weeks, 2 Month Follow Up | The Lubben Social Network Scale - 6 contains 6 questions that ask about interaction and trust with family and friends in the past month. The scale is scored from 0 to 30 with each question asking about number of friends or family "seen or heard from at least once a month," "at ease with that you could talk about private matters" or "close to such that you could call on them for help" on a ranked scale of 0 (none) to 5 (9 or more). |
| Self-Efficacy | Baseline, 9 Weeks, 2 Month Follow Up | Self-efficacy is the belief in one's ability to cope with a broad range of stressful and challenging demands. The Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale has 10 items with questions about ability to cope and problem solve with responses ranging from 0 (not at all true) to 4 (exactly true). |
| Quality of Life Core 30 | Baseline, 9 Weeks, 2 Month Follow Up | The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core 30 (EORTC-QOL-C30) contains 30 questions that ask about activities of daily living, symptomatology, overall health and quality of life. |
| PHQ-9 | Baseline, 9 Weeks, 2 Month Follow Up | The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) contains 9 questions that ask about the frequency of depression-related symptoms over the past two weeks. Response options range from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day), with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity. |
| GAD-7 | Baseline, 9 Weeks, 2 Month Follow Up | The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) contains 7 questions that ask about the frequency of anxiety-related symptoms over the past two weeks. Response options range from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day), with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity. |
Countries
United States
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORSebastian Tong, MD, MPH
University of Washington
Outcome results
None listed