The purpose of this research study is to test an online support group designed to help young adults who have had cancer treatment to manage their mood during a pandemic. Investigators hope to learn more about what effects a support group may have upon the health and well-being of young adults who have undergone cancer treatment by offering an online support group that teaches healthy coping skills in a practical and acceptable way. Investigators would also like to know if certain parts of the online material is more effective in helping subjects manage their mood.
Primary Objective: To improve self-efficacy for young adult cancer survivors navigating pandemic conditions. Secondary Objective: To reduce depression and anxiety levels through meaning-making.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
10
Participants will complete initial online questionnaires lasting about 25-30 minutes as well as attend weekly support group meetings online. After 4 weeks, participants will complete seven online follow-up questionnaires that should take no longer than 30 minutes and again at the end of the study.
Wake Forest Baptist Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Change in Self-Efficacy in Pandemic Conditions
The improvement of self-efficacy for young adult cancer survivors navigating pandemic conditions will be assessed by comparing the change in the Cancer Behaviour Inventory-Brief (CBI-B) version (a 12-item validated questionnaire used widely as a measure of self-efficacy for coping with cancer) from baseline to Visit 8. To test the change over the 8 weeks, a paired t-test (using the baseline and Visit 8 scores within the same patient) will be used; the expected difference in the CBI-B between the two scores would be no change. Score range is 1 (not at all confident) to 9 (totally confident) (minimum score of 12, maximum score of 108). Sum the scores for the 12 items with higher scores indicating greater coping efficacy.
Time frame: At baseline up to 8 weeks
Changes in Depression and Anxiety Levels (CAS)
Three instruments will provide information on baseline, Visit 8, and change over time. 1\) The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) - 5-item mental health screener of dysfunctional anxiety associated with the coronavirus. Scoring is on a 5-point scale of 0 (not at all) to 4 (nearly every day). Minimum score (0): A score of 0 indicates that a person has not experienced any dysfunctional anxiety symptoms related to the coronavirus within the past two weeks. Maximum score (20): A score of 20 indicates the highest level of coronavirus-related anxiety, with the individual experiencing all five symptoms "nearly every day" over the past two weeks.
Time frame: At baseline up to 8 weeks
Changes in Depression and Anxiety Levels (PIL)
Three instruments will provide information on baseline, Visit 8, and change over time. 2\) The Purpose in Life Test (PIL) - 20-item, 7-point Likert scale designed to measure the extent to which a respondent perceives a general sense of meaning and purpose in life using varying scale labels, scores are aggregated with a minimum score of 20 (lowest purpose) and a maximum score of 140 (highest purpose).
Time frame: At baseline up to 8 weeks
Changes in Depression and Anxiety Levels (MAC)
Three instruments will provide information on baseline, Visit 8, and change over time. 3\) Mini-Mental Adjustments to Cancer - 29-item, 4-point Likert scale (maximum possible score of 116 and minimum possible score of 29) for rapid assessment of present coping style from 1 (Definitely Does Not Apply to Me) to 4 (Definitely Apply to Me), higher score represents higher endorsement of the adjustment response. (4). Five subscales include: Helpless-Hopeless (score range 8-32), Anxious Preoccupation (score range 8-32), Cognitive Avoidance (score range 4-16), Fighting Spirit (score range 4-16) and Fatalism (score range 5-20).
Time frame: At baseline up to 8 weeks
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