Enhancing Coping Skills in Patients With Cancer

McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre1 enrolled

Overview

* Approximately 30% of all patients with cancer report levels of psychological distress indicative of the need for psychological intervention. * Research suggests that learning more adaptive coping strategies improves psychological adjustment to cancer. * It is imperative to develop cost-efficient, feasible psychosocial interventions. * The aim is to test the efficacy of the self administered format of a psycho-educational intervention (NUCARE) in reducing distress and enhancing adaptive coping strategies for cancer patients. It is hypothesized that: * patients would show significant reductions in distress (i.e., depression and anxiety) over the 6-week treatment period, and that treatment would produce superior results compared to wait-list; patients would maintain or even increase their improvement up to 3 months following treatment. * the treatment would enhance more adaptive coping strategies. * greater self-reported adherence to the treatment/homework would be associated with symptom improvement, more autonomous self-regulation and higher perceived competence for adhering to the coping intervention program.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Cancer

Interventions

The self administered coping intervention (i.e. NUCARE workbook) aims to teach individuals how to cope with their cancer. The intervention embraces two major areas: (i) the enhancement of a sense of personal control; and (ii) the learning of emotional and instrumental coping responses. The approach emphasizes training in problem-solving, relaxation techniques, cognitive coping skills, goal setting, communication, social support and lifestyle factors. The didactic material of the Nucare program is comprised of a workbook containing 12 chapters addressing the above mentioned aspects.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 18+ years of age, * able to read English, * a cancer patient presenting at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) interested in participating, * willing to receive minimal therapist contact (by telephone) and self administered therapy, * able to give their own consent. Exclusion Criteria: * currently receiving psychological/psychiatric treatment/counselling, * indicate at the time of recruitment that they intend to seek psychological treatment elsewhere during the study period, * a history of psychosis or bipolar disorder, * substance abuse/dependence in last 6 months, * taking psychotropic medication with altering dosages in the past 3 months.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in The Health Education Impact Questionnaire from pre to post intervention, at 6 weeks post intervention, and 3 months post intervention

Time frame: pre-intervention (week 0), post intervention (week 6), 6 weeks post intervention, 3 months post intervention

Secondary Outcomes

Change in coping strategies & distress from pre to post intervention, at 6 weeks post intervention, and 3 months post intervention

Measured with The Ways of Coping Questionnaire - Cancer Version scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

Time frame: pre-intervention (week 0), post intervention (week 6), 6 week post intervention, 3 month post intervention