Stress Management Training in Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy for Cancer

Stress Management Training For Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy

RATIONALE: Stress management techniques such as muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and abdominal breathing may improve quality of life and decrease emotional distress in patients who are undergoing radiation therapy for cancer.

PURPOSE: Randomized clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of stress management training in helping cancer patients cope with the emotional distress of radiation therapy.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Depression; Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific; Anxiety Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: psychosocial assessment and care; Procedure: quality-of-life assessment

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Determine whether a modified version of a self-administered stress management training intervention, previously found to be of benefit in chemotherapy patients, is effective in improving quality of life and decreasing psychological distress (anxiety and depression) in patients with cancer who are undergoing radiotherapy.

Secondary

• Compare the efficacy of this intervention on improving quality of life and decreasing psychological distress (anxiety and depression) in male vs female patients.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

• Arm I: Patients receive self-administered stress management training (SSMT) in 3 stress management techniques (progressive muscle relaxation training and guided imagery, abdominal breathing, and coping skills) adapted specifically for use during radiotherapy. Patients initially receive a 5-minute standardized presentation regarding the nature and purpose of SSMT. Patients then receive information and instruction regarding the three stress management techniques comprising a videotape, audiotape, and brochure. Patients also receive their institution's usual psychosocial care.
• Arm II: Patients receive their institution's usual psychosocial care only. Quality of life, anxiety, and depression are assessed at baseline and then at 1, 2, and 3 weeks. Intervention helpfulness is assessed at 3 weeks.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 327 patients (approximately 163 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study within 2 years.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Arizona
    • Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 85006-2726
      • CCOP - Western Regional, Arizona
  • California
    • Oakland, California, United States, 94609-3305
      • CCOP - Bay Area Tumor Institute
  • District of Columbia
    • Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20060
      • MBCCOP - Howard University Cancer Center
    • Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20060
      • Howard University Cancer Center at Howard University Hospital
  • Florida
    • Boynton Beach, Florida, United States, 33435
      • Comprehensive Cancer Care Center at Bethesda Memorial Hospital
    • Tampa, Florida, United States, 33612-9497
      • H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute at University of South Florida
  • Georgia
    • Savannah, Georgia, United States, 31405
      • Cancer Care and Research Pavilion at St. Joseph's/Candler
  • Missouri
    • Springfield, Missouri, United States, 65807
      • CCOP - Cancer Research for the Ozarks
  • New York
    • Bronx, New York, United States, 10466
      • MBCCOP-Our Lady of Mercy Cancer Center
  • Ohio
    • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43206
      • CCOP - Columbus
  • Texas
    • Temple, Texas, United States, 76508
      • CCOP - Scott and White Hospital
  • Washington
    • Tacoma, Washington, United States, 98405-0986
      • CCOP - Northwest

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of cancer

• Must be scheduled to receive a minimum of 12 radiotherapy treatments over a 21-day period

  • Must not be scheduled to receive CNS irradiation
  • Must not be scheduled to receive radiotherapy as palliative care only
  • Prostate seed implants allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• Not specified

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Not specified

Hepatic

• Not specified

Renal

• Not specified

Other

• Able to read and speak English

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• No concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy

Surgery

• Not specified

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Allocation: Randomized

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of South Florida
• Collaborators: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Investigators: Study Chair: Paul Jacobsen, PhD, University of South Florida

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2003
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2005
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2006

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 7, 2003
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 8, 2003
• First Posted (Estimate): April 9, 2003

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 30, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 29, 2013
• Last Verified: April 1, 2005

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: unspecified adult solid tumor, protocol specific; depression; anxiety disorder
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Depression; Anxiety Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: MCC-0108; CDR0000069466 (Registry Identifier: PDQ (Physician Data Query)); NCI-5721; NCI-P02-0227; TAGH-20291