Expressive Writing for Cancer Survivors

Cancer Survivors Clinical Trial

Official title:

Expressive Writing for Resilience in Adult Cancer Survivors.

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04171609
• Other study ID #: Pro00101278
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: July 19, 2019
• Est. completion date: May 14, 2020

Study information

• Verified date: November 2019
• Source: Duke University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a 1-day expressive writing intervention for adult cancer survivors improves resilience scores as measured by the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC).

Description:

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a 1-day expressive writing intervention for adult cancer survivors improves resilience scores as measured by the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC).

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 14
• Est. completion date: May 14, 2020
• Est. primary completion date: May 14, 2020
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Have ever received a cancer diagnosis

• Have completed cancer treatment (e.g., surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy)

• Are able to speak, read, write, and understand English

• Are cognitively able to provide consent

• Are able to travel to Durham to participate in the 1-day writing intervention

Exclusion Criteria:

-Cancer diagnosis was skin cancer that did not require additional treatment after surgical removal

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cancer Survivors

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Expressive writing
During this daylong expressive writing workshop intervention, the writing instructor coached participants through a series of simple writing exercises. Participation required neither any prior writing experience, nor any desire to become a writer. The practices cultivate natural abilities to express the ideas that define who you are and how you experience your life.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Duke Integrative Medicine	Durham	North Carolina

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Duke University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in resilience as measured by the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale	This 25-item scale addresses resilience, and has been studied in a variety of populations. Resilience is considered as the capacity to overcome adversity.	Baseline, 6 months
Secondary	Post-writing survey	This five-question survey is used after each writing exercise to measure how respondents reflect on their writing. This survey asks participants to respond to the first four questions using a 10-point Likert-type scale endorsing the degree to which each item reflects their thoughts and feeling about their writing. The fifth question asks for a free-response reflection on how they think and feel about how their writing went.	1 day (collected during the 1-day intervention)
Secondary	Change in quality of life as measured by the Quality of Life Patient/Cancer Survivor Version (QOL-CSV)	The QOL-CSV is a 41-item ordinal scale measuring quality of life as a cancer patient that originated in use for pain research and was recently adapted for use in long-term cancer survivorship. This survey asks participants to measure their quality of life in terms of the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of well-being.	Baseline, 6 months
Secondary	Change in perceived stress as measured by Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)	The PSS-10 is a well-known 10-item questionnaire used to evaluate responders' perceptions about their level of stress and their ability to cope with stress over the last month. Results from this questionnaire have demonstrated acceptable levels of validity and reliability. This inventory asks participants to respond using a 10-point Likert-type scale when endorsing the degree to which each item best reflects their thoughts and feelings within the past month.	Baseline, 6 months
Secondary	Change in depression as measured by Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R)	The 20-item CESD-R is one of the most common screening tests that measures depressive feelings and behaviors within the past week.	Baseline, 6 months
Secondary	Qualitative follow-up questionnaire	This qualitative follow-up questionnaire will be administered 6 months after the study intervention to capture participants' reflections on their experience in the study.	6 months