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NCT Number: NCT07836075

Brief Meaning-making for Young Adult Cancer Survivors

The goal of this feasibility study is to learn if a brief meaning-making wellness intervention based on Viktor Frankl's Existential Psychology works to improve fatigue levels in Young Adult Cancer Survivors (YACS) who have completed primary treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* What would be the recruitment and retention rates? * What might the feedback from participants be? * Could there be any effects on fatigue and other related symptoms? Researchers will compare meaning-making to usual care (no intervention) to see if meaning-making works to improve fatigue and other symptoms in YACS.

Participants will:

* Complete questionnaires (self-reported outcome measures) at baseline, 1-week post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up. * Attend an in-person, two-session brief meaning-making program

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Key information

Conditions

Wellness Program Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors Cancer Survivorship

Age range

18 year–39 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

Background:

Young Adult Cancer Survivors (YACS) refers to young adults aged 18-39 with a history of cancer, with "survivor" status defined as having completed primary treatment for cancer. YACS encompasses both survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer (defined as primary cancer onset at age of 15-39) and childhood cancer (defined as primary cancer onset at age of 0-14). According to statistics from the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, there were 1,471 new cases of AYA cancer and 111 cases of childhood cancer in 2023.

Studies have found fatigue to be prevalent and particularly distressing among Young Adult Cancer Survivors (YACS): 1 in every 4 YACS continued to experience persistent chronic fatigue even after a median of 14 years since cancer diagnosis.

In this connection, we propose a brief meaning-making education program, grounded in Viktor Frankl's Existential Psychology, for facilitating fatigue management in post-treatment Young Adult Cancer Survivors.

Methods:

Participants will be randomly assigned to intervention (2-session, in-person meaning-making education) or control (usual care) at a 1:1 ratio. This study is designed as open label since both interventionist and participants could not be blinded to meaning-making nature of the intervention versus control (no intervention). To prevent contamination, participants in the intervention arm will be advised to avoid discussing the intervention content with others.

Intervention development process will be guided by a Faculty Member of the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy. Intervention will be delivered by a University lecturer upon completion of 105 hours of training as part of a certificate program at the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy. Throughout the study period, the interventionist will receive ongoing supervision from a locally registered counselling psychologist in Hong Kong.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Cancer survivors currently aged 18-39, including who are currently either cancer-free, in remission, or receiving maintenance therapy.
  • Having completed primary cancer treatment for at least about 2 months.
  • Able to speak, read, and comprehend Cantonese, and able to comprehend English.
  • Ambulatory
  • No auditory, visual or language or reading disabilities (e.g. aphasia, deafness)
  • Able to complete online questionnaires.
  • Able to use laptop.
  • Willing to accept randomization.

Exclusion criteria

  • Current severe or untreated psychiatric disorder that would preclude participation in class activities.
  • Displaying any psychotic symptoms which would hinder class participation.
  • Having physical, sensory disabilities or cognitive impairment that would preclude face-to-face class. attendance and group-based interaction.
  • Unwilling to accept randomization.
  • Currently receiving any type of psychotherapy
  • Having received any Franklian existential psychology-related interventions, Logotherapy or Meaning-centred Psychotherapy before.

Remark: Some inclusion and exclusion criteria are purposely omitted at this time to preserve scientific integrity. They will be included after the trial is complete.

Treatment and study plan

Meaning-making

Other

The proposed intervention will be an in-person, group-based, meaning-making wellness programme (two sessions, each 2 to 3-hr long), for Young Adult Cancer Survivors.

Intervention content will be based on core philosophical tenets and concepts of Viktor Frankl's Existential Psychology. Activities include didactic teaching, group discussions, as well as reflective activities through audio-visual media such as visual stories, games, photos, videos and music.

The intervention does not involve psychotherapy.

Intervention development process will be guided by a Faculty Member of the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy. Intervention will be delivered by a University lecturer upon completion of 105 hours of training as part of a certificate program at the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy. Throughout the study period, the interventionist will receive ongoing supervision from a locally registered counselling psychologist in Hong Kong.

Primary outcomes

  1. Fatigue

    Time frame: Baseline

    The Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) is used for assessing Fatigue levels. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Fatigue.

  2. Fatigue

    Time frame: 1-week Post-intervention

    The Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) is used for assessing Fatigue levels. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Fatigue.

  3. Fatigue

    Time frame: 1-month Follow-up

    The Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) is used for assessing Fatigue levels. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Fatigue.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Depression

    Time frame: Baseline

    The Depression subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) is used for assessing Depressive Symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Depressive Symptoms.

  2. Depression

    Time frame: 1-week Post-intervention

    The Depression subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) is used for assessing Depressive Symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Depressive Symptoms.

  3. Depression

    Time frame: 1-month Follow-up

    The Depression subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) is used for assessing Depressive Symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Depressive Symptoms.

  4. Anxiety

    Time frame: Baseline

    The Anxiety subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) is used for assessing Anxiety Symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Anxiety Symptoms.

  5. Anxiety

    Time frame: 1-week Post-intervention

    The Anxiety subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) is used for assessing Anxiety Symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Anxiety Symptoms.

  6. Anxiety

    Time frame: 1-month Follow-up

    The Anxiety subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) is used for assessing Anxiety Symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater severity of Anxiety Symptoms.

  7. Sleep Quality

    Time frame: Baseline

    The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is used for assessing Sleep Quality. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer Sleep Quality and greater severity of Sleep Disturbances.

  8. Sleep Quality

    Time frame: 1-week Post-intervention

    The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is used for assessing Sleep Quality. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer Sleep Quality and greater severity of Sleep Disturbances.

  9. Sleep Quality

    Time frame: 1-week Follow-up

    The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is used for assessing Sleep Quality. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer Sleep Quality and greater severity of Sleep Disturbances.

  10. Presence of Meaning in Life

    Time frame: Baseline

    The Presence of Meaning subscale of Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ-P) is used for assessing the extent to which individuals experience presence of meaning and purpose in their lives. Scores range from 5 to 35, with higher scores indicating higher Presence of Meaning.

  11. Presence of Meaning in Life

    Time frame: 1-week Post-intervention

    The Presence of Meaning subscale of Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ-P) is used for assessing the extent to which individuals experience presence of meaning and purpose in their lives. Scores range from 5 to 35, with higher scores indicating higher Presence of Meaning.

  12. Presence of Meaning in Life

    Time frame: 1-month Follow-up

    The Presence of Meaning subscale of Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ-P) is used for assessing the extent to which individuals experience presence of meaning and purpose in their lives. Scores range from 5 to 35, with higher scores indicating higher Presence of Meaning.

  13. Search for Meaning

    Time frame: Baseline

    The Search of Meaning subscale of Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ-S) is used for assessing how actively individuals seek meaning and purpose in their lives. Scores range from 5 to 35, with higher scores indicating greater search for meaning.

  14. Search for Meaning

    Time frame: 1-week Post-intervention

    The Search of Meaning subscale of Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ-S) is used for assessing how actively individuals seek meaning and purpose in their lives. Scores range from 5 to 35, with higher scores indicating greater search for meaning.

  15. Search for Meaning

    Time frame: 1-month Follow-up

    The Search of Meaning subscale of Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ-S) is used for assessing how actively individuals seek meaning and purpose in their lives. Scores range from 5 to 35, with higher scores indicating greater search for meaning.

  16. Quality of Life, measured by MQOL

    Time frame: Baseline

    The McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) is used for assessing Quality of Life. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating better Quality of Life.

  17. Quality of Life, measured by MQOL

    Time frame: 1-week Post-intervention

    The McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) is used for assessing Quality of Life. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating better Quality of Life.

  18. Quality of Life, measured by MQOL

    Time frame: 1-month Follow-up

    The McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) is used for assessing Quality of Life. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating better Quality of Life.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Ki Sum Samson Wong, MSocSc, FHEA, FAcadMEd, AFAMEE

CONTACT

[email protected]

(852)39179309

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The University of Hong Kong

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Brief Meaning-making Program for Young Adult Cancer Survivors (YACS): An Open-label Randomized Controlled Feasibility Study

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Sep 23, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 23, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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