This is a single-arm pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a novel psychosocial intervention to improve psychosocial outcomes for parents with advanced cancer and their co-parents. In this single-center study, we will recruit ten mothers with metastatic breast cancer and their co-parents as dyads (N=20) to participate in the Fathers and Mothers Invested in the Lives of their Youth (FAMILY) intervention. Patient and co-parent dyads will participate in 2-3 study visits with an intervention facilitator and a post-intervention feedback interview. Participants will also complete baseline and follow-up study surveys. The final products of this study will be the FAMILY intervention manual and training materials, and fidelity assessments.
Cancer is the leading disease-specific cause of early parental death in the United States and having dependent children worsens suffering for parents with advanced cancer and their families. The FAMILY intervention consists of manualized visits with a trained intervention facilitator and psychoeducation materials to help parents cope with cancer-related parenting concerns. The purpose of the intervention is to improve parenting concerns, emotional well-being, and end-of-life (EOL) preparation among participants. This study will evaluate whether a psychosocial intervention to reduce psychological distress and improve EOL preparation for mothers with metastatic breast cancer and their co-parents can be acceptable, feasible, and relevant to the target patient population. This study is needed in order to generate critical data to: (1) refine the intervention in preparation for a pilot efficacy randomized controlled trial (RCT); and to generate preliminary data demonstrating the feasibility and acceptability of core intervention components. The preliminary data will support future grant applications for a full-scale efficacy RCT.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
15
The FAMILY intervention involves 2-3 study visits with a specially-trained intervention facilitator. Study visits are manualized and complemented by patient education materials.
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Acceptability of the Intervention
Acceptability of the intervention was defined as the number of participants who completed the study intervention. Participants' experience was assessed qualitatively, using post-intervention interviews.
Time frame: 42 Days
Acceptability of the Intervention Measured by the Study Visit Assessment Form
The acceptability of the intervention was assessed through participants' satisfaction with the program. The Lyon Satisfaction questionnaire consists of 5-point Likert-type items assessing positive (six items) and negative (seven items) emotional reactions to the study visit. Responses were summed and reported for each subscale with higher scores meaning higher emotional reactions, and worse reactions. Positive subscale: 6-30 and negative subscale: 7-35.
Time frame: 7 Days
Feasibility of Study Procedures
Feasibility of study procedures were assessed how likely patient-co-parent dyads are to join the study through tracking the number of eligible dyads who participate in the study.
Time frame: 14 Days
Feasibility of Recruitment
Assess how likely patient-co-parent dyads are to join the study by tracking the number of eligible dyads who participate in the study.
Time frame: Baseline
Feasibility of Completion
Feasibility of Completion was evaluated by tracking the number of dyads that complete the study visits and study assessments. Numbers reflect from Baseline through 42 days given a flexible duration of intervention.
Time frame: Up to 42 Days
Emotional Well-being Measured by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Palliative Care (FACIT-Pal Care) Subscale
Assess the change in patient's emotional well-being through the FACIT-Pal Care; a 6-item self-report assessment of emotional well-being that is widely used in palliative care research. Score range is 0-24, higher scores indicate better emotional well-being.
Time frame: Baseline, 7 Days, 14 Days, 28 Days, 42 Days
Anxiety and Depression Symptoms Measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Assess the change in patient and co-parent's depression and anxiety symptom severity. The HADS consists of two 7-item subscales assessing depression and anxiety symptoms separately. Score range for each subscale is 0-21, higher scores indicate greater symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline, 7 Days, 14 Days, 28 Days, 42 Days
Parenting Concerns Measured by the Parenting Concerns Questionnaire-Advanced Disease (PCQ-AD)
Assess the change in patient and co-parent's parenting concerns severity. The PCQ-AD is an investigator-adapted measure of parenting concerns measured on a 4-point scale. Total score range for the PCQ-AD is 0-3 with higher scores indicating greater distress.
Time frame: Baseline, 7 Days, 14 Days, 28 Days, 42 Days
The Change in Patient and Co-parent's Illness-related Communication
The change in patient and co-parent's illness-related communication was measured by the Couples Illness Communication Scale (CICS). The CICS is a brief self-report measure of illness-related couple communication. The CICS consists of 4 items measured on a 5-point Likert-type scale. Total Score Range: 4-20, Higher is better.
Time frame: Baseline, 7 Days, 14 Days, 28 Days, 42 Days
Patient's Health-related Quality of Life
Patient Health-related Quality of Life was assessed change in the patient's health-related quality of life measured by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Palliative Care (FACIT-Pal). The FACIT-Pal is a 46-item self-administered assessment of general HRQOL in cancer patients. It is graded on a 4-point scale and higher scores indicate better quality of life. Total Score Range: 0-184 Assess change in the patient's health-related quality of life measured by the FACIT-Pal; the FACIT-Pal is a 46-item self-administered assessment of general HRQOL in cancer patients. It is graded on a 4-point scale and higher scores indicate better quality of life. The numbers analyzed reflect all individuals who contributed data at each time point.
Time frame: Baseline, 7 Days, 14 Days, 28 Days, 42 Days
Patient and Co-parent's Cancer-related Family Communication
Patient and Co-Parent's Cancer-related Family Communication was assessed changes in the patient and co-parent's scores for a nine-item investigator-developed measure. The measure assesses participants' confidence and preparation to engage in communication about the impact of parental cancer on children. For the first 8 items, the score range is on a 4-point scale (1 to 4). The last item is graded on a 3-point scale (1 to 3). For all 9 items, higher is better. Due to the small sample size, each individual score item was reported.
Time frame: Baseline, 7 Days, 14 Days, 28 Days, 42 Days
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