Overview
The goal of this behavioral research study is to learn about the effects of two different supportive care programs on patients' and their family caregivers' psychological wellbeing and overall quality of life.
Description
To enhance the accessibility and scalability for future research, both the interventions (FFM and AC) will be delivered via videoconferencing. To increase the generalizability of the findings, a multi-site enrollment recruitment strategy will be used to enroll a diverse (including underserved) patient population. The program will be delivered in both English and Spanish and a varied social economic population will be enrolled in the program.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Be diagnosed with a metastatic (stage IV) breast, thoracic, gastrointestinal, gynecological, or genitourinary cancer
- Be without disease progression for at least 3 months based on surveillance CT imaging
- Have an ECOG performance status of ≤2
- Have a family caregiver willing to participate
Both patient and caregiver must meet all the following criteria:
- Be ≥18 years old
- Be able to read and speak English or Spanish.
- Be able to provide informed consent
Additionally, either the patient and/or caregiver must:
• Have a NCCN Distress Thermometer score of ≥4
Exclusion Criteria:
A patient who meets the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this
study:
• Have cognitive deficits that would impede the completion of self-report instruments as
deemed by their attending oncologist
3.3 Vulnerable Populations This study is designed for individuals who are at least 18 years
of age, and there is no upper age limit. Children under the age of 18 will not be included.
First and foremost, it is unlikely that a minor is diagnosed with a metastatic solid tumor.
It is also unlikely that a minor serves as the primary family caregiver of a patient with
cancer. Additionally, the intervention is designed for adults, and the assessment tools are
not validated for minors. While pregnant caregivers (self-identified) are study eligible,
we will also exclude pregnant patients (medical notes).
3.4 Recruitment/Screening Process Eligible study participants (i.e. cancer patients) will
be identified using the electronic clinic appointment systems on their tumor
characteristics (i.e. cancer type and stage) and date of birth (i.e. minimum 18 years old).
Potential patients and caregivers will be approached during patients' appointment at an
outpatient oncology appointment, screened for eligibility, and consented. Since this is a
family-based intervention, it is possible that caregivers will not be present during the
patients' clinic visits. If so, patients will be asked for permission to contact the
caregiver via phone to obtain consent.