The main purpose of this research study is to determine if a positive psychology-based program in people who have received a stem cell transplant for blood cancer treatment is feasible and acceptable, and can help improve positive feelings, mood, quality of life, overall wellbeing and health. The Positive psychology for Allogenic Transplantation of Hematopoietic stem cell intervention (PATH), a novel 9-week phone-administered Positive psychological intervention (PPI).
Low levels of positive psychological well-being (PPWB) (e.g., optimism, positive affect) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients are common and have been associated with decreased quality of life, poorer immune response, and increased mortality. These poor health outcomes are likely mediated through deficits in health behaviors (e.g., medication adherence, physical activity), and indeed low PPWB has been prospectively associated with poorer adherence to diet, medication, and physical activity in other medical populations, independent of sociodemographic, medical comorbidity, and the ill effects of depression and anxiety. Positive psychological interventions (PPIs) could be used to promote PPWB in the allogeneic transplant population. Despite the successful and effective use of PPIs in medical populations to reduce distress, increase quality of life, and promote health behaviors, PPI have never been tested in allogeneic recipients. -This a single center randomized trial of the PATH intervention versus usual care in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing HSCT. The research study procedures include screening for eligibility: * Participants will be randomized equally to the two arms using randomized permuted blocks of sizes two and four, with randomization stratified by presence/absence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), as allogeneic transplant recipients with GVHD have significantly different courses of recovery, QOL, and function post transplant. * Participant will be randomized into either: The Positive psychology for Allogenic Transplantation of Hematopoietic stem cell intervention (PATH), a novel 9-week phone-administered Positive psychological intervention (PPI) or usual care. It is expected that about 70 people will take part in this research study. The National Institute of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI) is supporting this research study by providing funding for the research
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
72
Weekly phone calls with the study interventionist and positive psychology exercises over an 9-week period. The positive psychology program exercises include three modules: gratitude-based activities, strength-based activities, and meaning-based activities.
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Feasibility Rate
Feasibility was defined a \>75% of enrolled participants in the PATH group completing at least 6 of the 9 positive psychology sessions.
Time frame: 9 weeks
Acceptability Rate
At the end of each weekly intervention session, acceptability was measured with weekly ratings of ease and utility of each positive psychology exercise with a 10-point Likert scale (0=very difficult/not helpful; 10=very easy/very helpful). The mean ease and utility of each exercise was calculated.
Time frame: 9 weeks
Mean Quality of Life Scores
45-item Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT) to assess quality of life (QOL) by cohort. Each question is scored from 0 ("Not at all") to 4 ("Very Much"). Total Score range from 0 to 180. A higher score indicates better quality of life. A mean score will be presented for each cohort.
Time frame: At baseline (registration) and then week 9 (+/- 1 week) and week 18 (+/- 1 week) from the time of registration
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.