Print

Purpose

A diagnosis of cancer may challenge one's former assumptions and beliefs about themselves and the world and potentially compromise quality of life (QOL). The primary aim of the study is to explore the preliminary efficacy of an intervention to protect individuals from the negative psychological impact of the cancer diagnosis. The secondary aim is to test the validity of the 12-item Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy- Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACIT-Sp-12), in its current and revised forms. Potential participants will be referred and enrolled from two study sites as per protocol: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and the Arkansas Hospice respectively, and will be asked to write as guided by the researcher for 4 weeks. Study outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 2-, 6- and 8-weeks post baseline. It is hypothesized that self-affirmation at the time following a diagnosis of an advanced cancer by affirming values or beliefs that are salient to self will help enhance self-esteem, reinforce spiritual well-being, decrease levels of anxiety or depression, and improve QOL.

Condition

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • within 8 weeks of being informed of diagnosis (primary or recurrent) - cancer stage III or IV of a primary solid tumor, or a high-grade hematological malignancy, and - age 18 years or older

Exclusion Criteria

  • medical condition precluding participation (e.g., too ill or fatigued, acute mental confusion as determined by the treating physician), or - enrolled in other psychosocial experiments

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
N/A
Intervention Model
Single Group Assignment
Primary Purpose
Prevention
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Writing 		This is a single-group study with one arm only.
  • Behavioral: Self-affirmation writing
    Writing with a focus on self-affirmation at the time following a diagnosis of an advanced cancer

Recruiting Locations

More Details

NCT ID
NCT05235750
Status
Completed
Sponsor
University of Arkansas

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.