The goal of this feasibility study is to learn if a brief meaning-making wellness intervention based on Viktor Frankl's Existential Psychology works to improve fatigue levels in Young Adult Cancer Survivors (YACS) who have completed primary treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What would be the recruitment and retention rates? * What might the feedback from participants be? * Could there be any effects on fatigue and other related symptoms? Researchers will compare meaning-making to usual care (no intervention) to see if meaning-making works to improve fatigue and other symptoms in YACS. Participants will: * Complete questionnaires (self-reported outcome measures) at baseline, 1-week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up. * Attend an in-person, two-session brief meaning-making program
Background: Young Adult Cancer Survivors (YACS) refers to young adults aged 18-39 with a history of cancer, with "survivor" status defined as having completed primary treatment for cancer. YACS encompasses both survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer (defined as primary cancer onset at age of 15-39) and childhood cancer (defined as primary cancer onset at age of 0-14). According to statistics from the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, there were 1,471 new cases of AYA cancer and 111 cases of childhood cancer in 2023. Studies have found fatigue to be prevalent and particularly distressing among Young Adult Cancer Survivors (YACS): 1 in every 4 YACS continued to experience persistent chronic fatigue even after a median of 14 years since cancer diagnosis. In this connection, we propose a brief meaning-making education program, grounded in Viktor Frankl's Existential Psychology, for facilitating fatigue management in post-treatment Young Adult Cancer Survivors. Methods: Participants will be randomly assigned to intervention (2-session, in-person meaning-making education) or control (usual care) at a 1:1 ratio. This study is designed as open label since both interventionist and participants could not be blinded to meaning-making nature of the intervention versus control (no intervention). To prevent contamination, participants in the intervention arm will be advised to avoid discussing the intervention content with others. Intervention development process will be guided by a Faculty Member of the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy. Intervention will be delivered by a University lecturer upon completion of 105 hours of training as part of a certificate program at the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy. Throughout the study period, the interventionist will receive ongoing supervision from a locally registered counselling psychologist in Hong Kong.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
50
The proposed intervention will be an in-person, group-based, meaning-making wellness programme (two sessions, each 2 to 3-hr long), for Young Adult Cancer Survivors. Intervention content will be based on core philosophical tenets and concepts of Viktor Frankl's Existential Psychology. Activities include didactic teaching, group discussions, as well as reflective activities through audio-visual media such as visual stories, games, photos, videos and music. The intervention does not involve psychotherapy. Intervention development process will be guided by a Faculty Member of the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy. Intervention will be delivered by a University lecturer upon completion of 105 hours of training as part of a certificate program at the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy. Throughout the study period, the interventionist will receive ongoing supervision from a locally registered counselling psychologist in Hong Kong.
The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Fatigue
The Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) is used for assessing Fatigue levels. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Fatigue.
Time frame: Baseline
Fatigue
The Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) is used for assessing Fatigue levels. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Fatigue.
Time frame: 1-week Post-intervention
Fatigue
The Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) is used for assessing Fatigue levels. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Fatigue.
Time frame: 1-month Follow-up
Depression
The Depression subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) is used for assessing Depressive Symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Depressive Symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline
Depression
The Depression subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) is used for assessing Depressive Symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Depressive Symptoms.
Time frame: 1-week Post-intervention
Depression
The Depression subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) is used for assessing Depressive Symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Depressive Symptoms.
Time frame: 1-month Follow-up
Anxiety
The Anxiety subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) is used for assessing Anxiety Symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Anxiety Symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline
Anxiety
The Anxiety subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) is used for assessing Anxiety Symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Anxiety Symptoms.
Time frame: 1-week Post-intervention
Anxiety
The Anxiety subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) is used for assessing Anxiety Symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Anxiety Symptoms.
Time frame: 1-month Follow-up
Sleep Quality
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is used for assessing Sleep Quality. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer Sleep Quality and greater severity of Sleep Disturbances.
Time frame: Baseline
Sleep Quality
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is used for assessing Sleep Quality. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer Sleep Quality and greater severity of Sleep Disturbances.
Time frame: 1-week Post-intervention
Sleep Quality
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is used for assessing Sleep Quality. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer Sleep Quality and greater severity of Sleep Disturbances.
Time frame: 1-week Follow-up
Presence of Meaning in Life
The Presence of Meaning subscale of Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ-P) is used for assessing the extent to which individuals experience presence of meaning and purpose in their lives. Scores range from 5 to 35, with higher scores indicating higher Presence of Meaning.
Time frame: Baseline
Presence of Meaning in Life
The Presence of Meaning subscale of Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ-P) is used for assessing the extent to which individuals experience presence of meaning and purpose in their lives. Scores range from 5 to 35, with higher scores indicating higher Presence of Meaning.
Time frame: 1-week Post-intervention
Presence of Meaning in Life
The Presence of Meaning subscale of Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ-P) is used for assessing the extent to which individuals experience presence of meaning and purpose in their lives. Scores range from 5 to 35, with higher scores indicating higher Presence of Meaning.
Time frame: 1-month Follow-up
Search for Meaning
The Search of Meaning subscale of Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ-S) is used for assessing how actively individuals seek meaning and purpose in their lives. Scores range from 5 to 35, with higher scores indicating greater search for meaning.
Time frame: Baseline
Search for Meaning
The Search of Meaning subscale of Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ-S) is used for assessing how actively individuals seek meaning and purpose in their lives. Scores range from 5 to 35, with higher scores indicating greater search for meaning.
Time frame: 1-week Post-intervention
Search for Meaning
The Search of Meaning subscale of Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ-S) is used for assessing how actively individuals seek meaning and purpose in their lives. Scores range from 5 to 35, with higher scores indicating greater search for meaning.
Time frame: 1-month Follow-up
Quality of Life, measured by MQOL
The McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) is used for assessing Quality of Life. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating better Quality of Life.
Time frame: Baseline
Quality of Life, measured by MQOL
The McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) is used for assessing Quality of Life. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating better Quality of Life.
Time frame: 1-week Post-intervention
Quality of Life, measured by MQOL
The McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) is used for assessing Quality of Life. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating better Quality of Life.
Time frame: 1-month Follow-up
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