Self-help Program Via Internet for Adolescents With Cancer (U-CARE:TeenCan)

May 27, 2015 updated by: Louise-von Essen, Uppsala University

A Randomized Controlled Study of the Clinical Efficacy and Cost-effectiveness of a Self-help Program Via Internet on Psychosocial Function Among Adolescents With Cancer

The overall aim is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a self-help program via internet aiming at preventing development and maintenance of cancer-related emotional distress among adolescents with cancer.

Study Overview

Status

Withdrawn

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

A significant number of adolescents reports less anxiety and depression and a better quality of life than a healthy reference group from eighteen months up to four years after diagnosis. However, a significant minority of adolescents struck by cancer reports a clinically relevant level of emotional distress from shortly after diagnosis up to four years after diagnosis. The provided self-help program is designed to promote psychological health.

150 adolescents recently diagnosed with cancer will be randomized to either of two conditions: (1) Early program and (2) Later program. In both conditions an internet-based self-help program is provided. Adolescents randomized to Early program start the program directly after randomization i.e. 4 weeks after diagnosis whereas adolescents randomized to Later program start the program sixty-two weeks after diagnosis. The larger part of data are collected at seven assessments, Observations 1-7. Observation 1 takes place 4 weeks after diagnosis (DI); Observation 2: 28 weeks after DI; Observation 3: 38 weeks after DI; Observation 4: 62 weeks after DI; Observation 5: 86 weeks after DI; Observation 6: 96 weeks after DI and Observation 7: 120 weeks after DI. The main research question is to investigate whether the program is superior to standard care in preventing development and maintenance of anxiety and depression at 38 weeks after diagnosis among adolescents with cancer.

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • Sweden
      • Göteborg, Sweden
        • Drottning Silvias barn- och ungdomssjukhus
      • Linköping, Sweden
        • Universitetssjukhuset
      • Lund, Sweden
        • Barn- och Ungdomssjukhuset
      • Stockholm, Sweden
        • Astrid Lindgrens Barnsjukhus
      • Umeå, Sweden
        • Norrlands universitetssjukhus
      • Uppsala, Sweden
        • Akademiska Barnsjukhuset

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

Ages Eligible for Study

13 years to 19 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion criteria:

  • Adolescents aged from 13 to 19
  • Recent cancer diagnosis

Exclusion criteria:

  • No access to computer or internet
  • Difficulties reading or understanding Swedish

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: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Early self-help program
The early self-help program starts directly after randomization i.e. 4 weeks after diagnosis.
Behavioral: Self-help program
The program is available via an internet platform (www.carebase.se) and consists of two steps: interactive support (Step 1) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) delivered via internet (2). Step 1 provides information about the cancer experience and psychoeducation about frequent reactions and distress and how to manage this. The information and education is provided via texts, audio files, and video-interviews with persons who have survived cancer during adolescence. Step 1 also capitalizes on interaction between participants via chat and forum. There is also a possibility to ask questions to an expert via the website. Twenty-eight weeks after start of Step 1 participants are offered access to Step 2 which lasts ten weeks and consists of a self-help CBT material consisting of modules and weekly contact with a psychologist. Each module is focused on one problem area, e.g. worry or depressive symptoms. Step 1 is available during Step 2. The whole program lasts for 34 weeks.
Experimental: Later self-help program
The later self-help program starts sixty-two weeks after diagnosis.
Behavioral: Self-help program
The program is available via an internet platform (www.carebase.se) and consists of two steps: interactive support (Step 1) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) delivered via internet (2). Step 1 provides information about the cancer experience and psychoeducation about frequent reactions and distress and how to manage this. The information and education is provided via texts, audio files, and video-interviews with persons who have survived cancer during adolescence. Step 1 also capitalizes on interaction between participants via chat and forum. There is also a possibility to ask questions to an expert via the website. Twenty-eight weeks after start of Step 1 participants are offered access to Step 2 which lasts ten weeks and consists of a self-help CBT material consisting of modules and weekly contact with a psychologist. Each module is focused on one problem area, e.g. worry or depressive symptoms. Step 1 is available during Step 2. The whole program lasts for 34 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Time Frame: Observation 3 (38 weeks after DI)
Observation 3 (38 weeks after DI)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - Civilian Version (PCL-C)
Time Frame: Observation (OBS) 1: 4 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 2: 28; OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI.
Observation (OBS) 1: 4 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 2: 28; OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI.
UCLA Loneliness Scale
Time Frame: Observation (OBS) 1: 4 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 2: 28; OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI.
Observation (OBS) 1: 4 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 2: 28; OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI.
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE)
Time Frame: Observation (OBS) 1: 4 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 2: 28; OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI.
Observation (OBS) 1: 4 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 2: 28; OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI.
Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS)
Time Frame: Observation (OBS) 1: 4 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 2: 28; OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI.
Observation (OBS) 1: 4 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 2: 28; OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI.
Mental Health Continuum - Short form (MHC-SF)
Time Frame: Observation (OBS) 1: 4 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 2: 28; OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI.
Observation (OBS) 1: 4 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 2: 28; OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI.
EQ-5D
Time Frame: Observation (OBS) 1: 4 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 2: 28; OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI and 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 29, 33, 37, 38, 64, 66, 70, 74, 78, 82, 87, 91, and 95 weeks after DI.
Quality of life for parents and adolescents
Observation (OBS) 1: 4 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 2: 28; OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI and 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 29, 33, 37, 38, 64, 66, 70, 74, 78, 82, 87, 91, and 95 weeks after DI.
Posttraumatic Growth Inventory - Short form (PTGI-SF)
Time Frame: Observation (OBS) 3: 38 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 4: 62; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI.
Observation (OBS) 3: 38 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 4: 62; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI.
Health-related costs questionnaire
Time Frame: Observation (OBS) 2: 28 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI and 8, 16, 66, and 74 weeks after DI.
Measurement of health-related costs for parents and adolescents such as sick-leave, transports, health-care visits, consumption of medicines etc.
Observation (OBS) 2: 28 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI and 8, 16, 66, and 74 weeks after DI.
Time spent on self-help program
Time Frame: Observation (OBS) 1: 4 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 2: 28; OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI.
Measurement of hours spent on program (time cost)
Observation (OBS) 1: 4 weeks after diagnosis (DI); OBS 2: 28; OBS 3: 38; OBS 4: 62; OBS 5: 86; OBS 6: 96 and OBS 7: 120 weeks after DI.

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Uppsala University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Louise von Essen, PhD, Uppsala University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

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

January 1, 2013

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

July 1, 2015

Study Completion (Anticipated)

May 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 4, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 10, 2012

First Posted (Estimate)

January 16, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

May 28, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 27, 2015

Last Verified

May 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • U-CARE: TeenCan

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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