A Sleep Intervention for Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers

April 4, 2026 updated by: Jennifer Steel, University of Pittsburgh
The purpose of the study is to design and test a dyadic sleep intervention for patients diagnosed with cancer and their intimate partner.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Sleep problems remain underdiagnosed and undertreated among cancer patients despite their high prevalence and consequences to quality of life and health. Hepatobiliary cancer patients have one of the highest rates of sleep problems with 59% reporting poor sleep quality and 43% reporting sleeping less than 6 hours per night. Sleep problems were found to be associated with clinical levels of depressive symptoms, elevations in pain and fatigue. Investigators have observed that short sleep duration was associated with increased risk of mortality in patients with hepatobiliary cancers. Inflammation has been hypothesized to mediate the link between sleep and mortality. In hepatobiliary cancer, short sleep duration was associated with elevations in Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1, IL-1 and IL-2 and poor sleep quality with elevations in Interferon (IFN) Interleukin-2, after adjusting for tumor associated inflammation, mediated the link between sleep duration and survival. These pro-inflammatory cytokines are also related to tumor growth and development of metastases. Sleep problems of spouses or intimate partners of hepatobiliary cancer patients were also prevalent with 62% reporting poor sleep quality and 33% reporting sleep less than 6 hours per night. Caregiving for an intimate partner with cancer has been linked to increased mortality and sleep has been proposed as a possible mediator of this link. Face to face cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective in cancer patients and cancer caregivers. However, due to the distance patients travel to our medical center (58% >1 hour), infrequency of visits (e.g., approximately every two months), limited resources (48% of patients <$20,000 annual income), and the unpredictability of cancer-related symptoms; weekly face-to- face CBT to treat sleep problems is not feasible. Therefore, investigators will test a dyadic Modified Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) intervention to reduce insomnia in patients and possibly caregivers and expect the findings of this study to have a significant public health impact for the over 12 million cancer patients and spousal/partner caregivers in which nearly half are estimated to suffer from sleep problems.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
2

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Jennifer L Steel, PhD
  • Phone Number: 412-692-2041
  • Email: steelj@upmc.edu

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Jennifer L Steel, PhD
  • Phone Number: 14126922041
  • Email: Steejl@upmc.edu

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Pennsylvania
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
        • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Montefiore Liver Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Patient

  • Diagnosed with cancer
  • Screens positive for sleep problems (5 or greater score on the PSQI)
  • Shares a bed with the caregiver/intimate partner
  • Patient's caregiver/intimate partner also screens positive for sleep problems (5 or greater score on the PSQI)

Exclusion Criteria:

Patient or Caregiver

  • does not screen positive for sleep problems
  • has been diagnosed with sleep apnea or use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine
  • has been diagnosed with narcolepsy or restless legs
  • works in a job that requires shift changes
  • does not speak/read English
  • does not share a bed with intimate partner

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Modified Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention Dyadic
The patient and caregiver in the dyadic intervention will have 5 sessions of Modified CBTi. The patient and caregiver will complete the assessment at 3- and 6 months follow up.
Behavioral: Dyadic Intervention
The patient and caregiver dyads will complete and return baseline questionnaires and then be randomized to Modified CBTi Dyadic Intervention. The patient and caregiver in the dyadic intervention will have 5 sessions of Modified CBTi. Upon completion of the intervention, the patient and caregiver will complete the follow up assessments at approximately 3 months and 6 months after the baseline questionnaires.
Experimental: Modified Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention Patient Only
The patient in the patient only intervention arm will receive 5 sessions of Modified CBTi. The patient and caregiver will complete the assessment at 3- and 6 months follow up
Behavioral: Patient Only Intervention
The patient and caregiver dyads will complete and return baseline questionnaires and then be randomized to Modified CBTi Patient Only Intervention. The patient in the Patient Only Intervention will have 5 sessions of Modified CBTi. Upon completion of the intervention, the patient and caregiver will complete the follow up assessments at approximately 3 months and 6 months after the baseline questionnaires.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Insomnia Severity Index
Time Frame: Change from baseline in insomnia reduction at 6 months
Insomnia Reduction by 50% -Total Score (0-28, where 28 is most severe)
Change from baseline in insomnia reduction at 6 months
Insomnia Severity Index
Time Frame: Change from baseline in insomnia reduction at 12 months
Insomnia Reduction by 50% -Total Score (0-28, where 28 is most severe)
Change from baseline in insomnia reduction at 12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time Frame: Change from baseline in improved sleep latency at 6 months.
Improved Sleep Latency by 25% - Global Score ranging from 0 to 21, where lower score indicates better quality of sleep
Change from baseline in improved sleep latency at 6 months.
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time Frame: Change from baseline in improved sleep latency at 12 months
Improved Sleep Latency by 25% - Global Score ranging from 0 to 21, where lower score indicates better quality of sleep
Change from baseline in improved sleep latency at 12 months
Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29)
Time Frame: Change from baseline in improved quality of life at 6 months
Increase in Quality of Life by 25% - total score ranging from 20-80, where lower scores indicate better quality of life
Change from baseline in improved quality of life at 6 months
Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29)
Time Frame: Change from baseline in improved quality of life at 12 months
Increase in Quality of Life by 25% - total score ranging from 20-80, where lower scores indicate better quality of life
Change from baseline in improved quality of life at 12 months

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29)
Time Frame: Change from baseline in depressive symptoms at 6 months
Reduction of Depressive Symptoms by 25%- total score ranging from 20-80, where lower scores indicate better quality of life
Change from baseline in depressive symptoms at 6 months
Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29)
Time Frame: Change from baseline in depressive symptoms at 12 months
Reduction of Depressive Symptoms by 25%- total score ranging from 20-80, where lower scores indicate better quality of life
Change from baseline in depressive symptoms at 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Pittsburgh

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jennifer L Steel, PhD, University of Pittsburgh

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 5, 2016

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 4, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 4, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 16, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 16, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 20, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 4, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • STUDY19090202

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

De-Identified Data may be shared with investigators who request data from the Primary Investigator

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Data will be available at the end of the study for up to one year.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Appropriate investigator credentials (MD, PhD) and request, and for up to one year after study completion

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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