This pilot clinical trial studies how well acceptance and commitment therapy works in improving well-being in patients with stage III-IV cancer and their partners. Learning how to accept negative thoughts and feelings and how to live in the present without worrying about the future or past may improve coping skills in patients with stage III-IV cancer and their partners.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To examine the feasibility and acceptability of couples' acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) (C-ACT). II. To collect pilot data on the impact of C-ACT on patients' and partners' anxiety, depression, and quality of life. OUTLINE: Patients and their partners attend 6 weekly ACT sessions over 60-75 minutes. Couples learn skills of acceptance, avoidance, awareness, values and committed action, mindfulness and values in relationships, and handling persistent worries and concerns. Patients and their partners also do homework assignment after each session. After completion of the study, patients and their partners are followed up at 1 week.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
14
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Change in acceptance as measured by the COPE acceptance subscale
Pre-post changes will be examined using t-tests in the primary outcomes as well as the mechanisms of change (e.g., flexibility, avoidance self-disclosure). Because this is primarily a pilot and feasibility study and not an efficacy test, these data will be used primarily to examine whether an impact on distress and well-being was made but statistical significance will not be the primary aim.
Time frame: Baseline to 1-week post intervention
Change in avoidance as measured by the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II
Pre-post changes will be examined using t-tests in the primary outcomes as well as the mechanisms of change (e.g., flexibility, avoidance self-disclosure). Because this is primarily a pilot and feasibility study and not an efficacy test, these data will be used primarily to examine whether an impact on distress and well-being was made but statistical significance will not be the primary aim.
Time frame: Baseline to 1-week post intervention
Change in value based living as measured by the Valued Living questionnaire
Pre-post changes will be examined using t-tests in the primary outcomes as well as the mechanisms of change (e.g., flexibility, avoidance self-disclosure). Because this is primarily a pilot and feasibility study and not an efficacy test, these data will be used primarily to examine whether an impact on distress and well-being was made but statistical significance will not be the primary aim.
Time frame: Baseline to 1-week post intervention
Feasibility defined as acceptance
This trial will be considered feasible if the acceptance rate among eligible patients is equal to or greater than 30%
Time frame: Up to 1-week post intervention
Feasibility defined as session drop out
This trial will be considered feasible if drop out from sessions (at any point over the 6 sessions) is less than 20% (thus, 6/30)
Time frame: Up to 1-week post intervention
Feasibility defined as survey follow ups
This trial will be considered feasible if 3) completion of study surveys at the follow up is 80%, and patients are not lost to progressive disease.
Time frame: Up to 1-week post intervention
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