Project's goal is evaluate an online tool the research team created called Empowered Survivor (ES) against a free online self-management intervention developed for cancer survivors by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society called Springboard Beyond Cancer.
600 patients who have completed treatment between one and three years ago and are currently cancer-free will be recruited via the New Jersey State Cancer Registry or the Cancer Registry of Greater California and randomly assigned to ES or Springboard Beyond Cancer. Participants will complete measures at baseline, 2, and 6-months post-baseline. The investigators will also complete a process evaluation of Empowered Survivor.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
643
Informational online intervention for head and neck cancer survivors
Informational online intervention for all cancer survivors
Survey measures administered at BL, two and 6 months post-baseline
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Self-efficacy score
Change in self- efficacy measured with the Self-efficacy scale (22 items) which targets confidence in managing aspects of self-care (e.g., dry mouth, swallowing, oral self-exam, communicating with providers, emotions). Administered at multiple time points to measure effect of the intervention. Ratings range from 1 (not at all confident) to 5 (very confident). An item average will be calculated.
Time frame: Baseline, two and 6 months post-baseline
Preparedness for survivorship
Change in preparedness for survivorship. The Preparedness for survivorship scale (10 items) developed by the investigator assesses whether information received about survivorship was sufficient, helpful, comprehensive, and covered self-care tasks. Administered at multiple time points to measure effect of the intervention. Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 4 = strongly agree). Higher score indicate better preparedness.
Time frame: Baseline, two and 6 months post-baseline
Quality of Life score measured using the The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)- Head and Neck
Change in QOL score over time. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer - Quality of Life Questionnaire- Head and Neck-43. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer - Quality of Life Questionnaire- Head and Neck-43 is the updated version of the EORTC H\&N 35, used in the researcher's pilot work. The EORTC QLQ-HN is the most widely-used measure of Head and Neck QOL. The investigators use the total score in analyses, but will evaluate subscales. Administered at multiple time points to measure effect of the intervention. Items are rated on 1 (not at all)-4 (very much) Likert scale and higher scores indicate worse QOL.
Time frame: Baseline, two and 6 months post-baseline
Performance of oral self-exam, past month
1 item asking the participant if he/she has performed an oral self-exam, past month. Yes/No. Administered at multiple time points to measure effect of the intervention.
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Time frame: Baseline, two and 6 months post-baseline
Comprehensiveness is the number of areas checked (11 areas) during the oral self-exam
Change in comprehensiveness of exams over time. 11 items will list the areas to check and ask participant to indicate Yes/No if the participant checked that area during the oral self-exam. Administered at multiple time points to measure effect of the intervention.
Time frame: Baseline, two and 6 months post-baseline
Performance of exercises to improve swallowing, past month (yes/no)
One question asking participants if they have completed exercises to improve swallowing in the past month. Administered at multiple time points to measure effect of the intervention.
Time frame: Baseline, two and 6 months post-baseline
Performance of head/neck exercises, past month (yes/no)
One question asking participants if they have completed head and neck exercises in the past month. Administered at multiple time points to measure effect of the intervention.
Time frame: Baseline, two and 6 months post-baseline