A Study of an Anxiety Intervention for Latino/Latina/Hispanic Older Adults With Cancer and Their Caregivers

Inclusion criteria

Older Adults with Cancer (OAC)

• As per medical record or self-report, is currently age 65 years or older
• As per medical record or self-report, currently receiving active cancer treatment OR is within eighteen months of completing active treatment which includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy.
• As per self-report, identifies as Latino and/or Hispanic Ethnicity
• Per self-report, has a primary informal caregiver (as defined by an unpaid individual who provides the patient with emotional, physical, and/or practical support) age 40 or older who is willing and able to participate in the study ; if a patient does not have a primary informal caregiver or if the caregiver does not or cannot participate, but meets all other inclusion criteria they will be allowed to enroll in the study
• Scores ≥6 on the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
• Per self-report, fluent in English and/or Spanish** ** Language verification: Prior to enrollment, patients will be asked the following two questions by a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) to verify language fluency necessary for participation in the study:

• How well do you speak English and/or Spanish? (must respond "very well" or "well" when given the choices of Very well, Well, Not well, Not at all, Don't know, or Refused)
• What is your preferred language for healthcare? (must respond English and/or Spanish)

Caregiver

• Per OAC report, is primary informal caregiver (as defined by an unpaid individual who provides the patient with emotional, physical, and/or practical support) for the eligible OAC patient
• As per self-report, is age 40 years or older
• Per self-report, fluent in English and/or Spanish** ** Language verification: Prior to enrollment, patients will be asked the following two questions by a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) to verify language fluency necessary for participation in the study:

• How well do you speak English and/or Spanish? (must respond "very well" or "well" when given the choices of Very well, Well, Not well, Not at all, Don't know, or Refused)
• What is your preferred language for healthcare? (must respond English and/or Spanish)

Exclusion criteria

OAC

• As per medical record or self-report, currently receiving psychotherapy
• As per medical record or self-report, taking psychotropic medications for < 8 weeks prior to MAC Session 1 and/or anticipates changing their medication during the study
• As per medical record or self-report, currently being treated for schizophrenia, substance use or dependence, and/or bi-polar disorder
• Severely cognitively impaired as demonstrated by Blessed Orientation Memory Concentration score ≥ 11
• Per research staff judgment and/or self-report, too ill or weak to complete study procedures
• Per medical record or self-report, receiving hospice care at the time of enrollment

Caregiver

• As per self-report, currently receiving psychotherapy
• As per self-report, taking psychotropic medications for < 8 weeks prior to MAC Session 1 and/or anticipates changing their medication during the study
• As per self-report, currently being treated for schizophrenia, substance use or dependence, and/or bi-polar disorder
• Severely cognitively impaired as demonstrated by Blessed Orientation Memory Concentration score ≥ 11
• Per research staff judgment and/or self-report, too ill or weak to complete study procedures