Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management for Latino Sexual Minority Men Living With HIV and Cancer

University of Miami16 enrolled

Overview

This is a one year study to develop and test a culturally-tailored, web-based cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention for Latino sexual minority men living with both HIV and cancer. Sexual minority Latino men living with HIV and cancer experience a variety of health disparities related to their diagnoses, including higher distress. The project will use a single-group pre-post design. The project will use a community-based participatory research approach, and the investigators have included (and will continue to include) LGBT-serving community partners in all phases of the research from study design to implementation and dissemination of findings. The proposed study will aid in attenuating health disparities among Latino sexual minority men living with HIV and cancer.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

HIV/AIDS Cancer

Interventions

The SmartManage CBSM intervention includes content that is of clinical relevance to sexual minority men dually diagnosed with HIV and cancer. Intervention content includes: co-management of HIV and cancer, strategies for self-advocacy, partnering with the health system and health providers, intimacy and disclosure concerns regarding both conditions, and contextual stressors (e.g., racial/ethnic minority status), stigmatization, assertiveness and communication skills, and self-efficacy in care coordination. Participants receive weekly 1.5 hour interactive group sessions online that focus on stress and self-management skill-building, and also receive access to didactic information regarding intervention content via the intervention website. Intervention length is 10 weeks. This intervention will be a version of SmartManage that is culturally-tailored for Latino populations.

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Have been diagnosed with at least one form of non-metastatic solid tumor cancer, 2. Are ≥ 30 days post active primary treatment (i.e. surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy\*) for their cancer. (Note: Adjuvant therapies, such as hormone therapy for prostate cancer, etc. are not considered exclusionary), 3. Self-identify as a sexual minority man, 4. have been diagnosed with HIV, 5. Have reliable access to a computer/device with internet accessibility, and 6. Are fluent English. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Have had one of the following exclusionary cancer types: Leukemia (or other cancers of the blood), Non-melanoma skin cancer only (not in combination with another type listed in the inclusion criteria above), Brain cancer, Eye cancer, a form of pediatric cancer (if the pediatric cancer is the only cancer diagnosis the patient has had), 2. Have a history of advanced (metastatic) cancer of any type or are currently undergoing primary treatment for their cancer, 3. Have had inpatient treatment for severe mental illness in the past 12 months, or have overt signs of psychopathology (i.e. psychosis) and/or suicidality at the time of screening, 4. Are experiencing active alcohol dependence, or have had inpatient treatment for alcohol abuse within the past 12 months, 5. Are experiencing active substance dependence, or have had inpatient treatment for substance abuse within the past 12 months, and/or 6. Have any other medical conditions resulting in a predicted life expectancy \<12 months.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in General Stress

The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) consists of 10 items, which are summed to create a total score ranging from 0 to 40. Higher scores indicate greater levels of perceived stress. The outcome was analyzed as the change from baseline.

Time frame: 10 weeks

Change in Disease-Related Distress

The Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) measures the psychological impact of traumatic events. It consists of three subscales: intrusion (eight items), avoidance (eight items), and hyperarousal (six items). Each subscale score is calculated by summing the items within that subscale. The maximum possible score for intrusion and avoidance is 32 each, while hyperarousal has a maximum score of 24. The scores from these subscales are summed to create a total score, which ranges from 0 to 88. Higher scores indicate a greater negative impact of the traumatic event. The outcome was analyzed as the change from baseline.

Time frame: 10 weeks

Change in Health-Related Quality of Life (FACT-G)

The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) questionnaire was used to assess quality of life. It comprises four sub-scales: physical well-being (7 items, score range 0-28), social/family well-being (7 items, score range 0-28), emotional well-being (6 items, score range 0-24), and functional well-being (7 items, score range 0-28). The overall score is calculated by summing the scores of these four sub-scales, resulting in a total possible score range of 0-108. Higher scores on the FACT-G indicate a better quality of life. The outcome was analyzed as the change from baseline.

Time frame: 10 weeks

Change in Health-Related Quality of Life (MOS-HIV)

The Medical Outcomes Study HIV Survey (MOS-HIV) assesses 10 health dimensions (i.e., health perceptions, pain, physical functioning, role functioning, social functioning, cognitive functioning, mental health, energy, health distress, and quality of life). Subscales are scored on a 0-100 scale, with a higher score indicating better health. The outcome was analyzed as the change from baseline.

Time frame: 10 weeks

Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management for Latino Sexual Minority Men Living With HIV and Cancer

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes