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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04855487

Expressive Storytelling to Share Adolescents/Young Adults Cancer Stories

The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an online expressive storytelling intervention for adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer.

* Specific Aim 1. To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a 5-week online expressive storytelling intervention. We will (a) conduct a 1-group pre- and post-test study with 20 AYA with cancer and (b) examine feasibility and acceptability through study enrollment rates, retention rates, usability score, adherence and data collection rates, satisfaction score, perceived benefits score, and intervention fidelity.

*Hypothesis 1: We will reach following feasibility and acceptability benchmarks: (a) >70% enrollment of eligible participants, (b) >70% retention, (c) >75% adherence and data collection, (d) >70 out of 100 usability score, (e) >5 out of 7 satisfaction score, (f) >average 5 on the perceived benefits score, and (g) >3 out of 4 fidelity score. * Specific Aim 2. To assess preliminary efficacy of a 5-week online expressive storytelling intervention.

* Hypothesis 2: AYA participants will report lower psychosocial distress, higher health-related quality of life, and higher well-being scores postintervention.

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Key information

Conditions

Pediatric Cancer Behavior Communication Growth, Posttraumatic Narration Narrative Medicine Neoplasms Nurse-Patient Relations

Age range

15 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States

About this study

  • Rationale/Significance of Study: Cancer is one of life's most stressful and serious illnesses for adolescents and young adults (AYA). In 2021, approximately 15,000 AYA ages 15 to 25 years are expected to be newly diagnosed with cancer in the United States. Despite high survival rates exceeding 85%, the burden of cancer and its' treatment for AYA is substantial and prolonged due to their unique developmental characteristics. AYA with cancer often deal with the difficulties of transition from pre-cancer to treatment trajectory while also transitioning from adolescence to young adulthood. While they suffer from physical, emotional, psychosocial, and financial burdens as a result of cancer, establishing resources for future development and well-being, such as identity and goal development, education, and social relationships, often becomes secondary during treatment because of concerns about survival. As a result, AYA with cancer have less opportunities to be prepared for their lifelong challenges and build abilities to deal with such complex suffering, which lead to maladjustment, hinder social reintegration, and limit their ongoing well-being. Thus, there is a critical need to deliver developmentally appropriate supportive care for AYA with cancer to reduce the potential risk of negative consequences and improve capacities to thrive throughout their life trajectories. The proposed study aims to test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an expressive storytelling intervention for AYA with cancer, helping them create and share their stories.
  • Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework of our study and the intervention contents are designed following the Story Theory in nursing practice and the Self-transcendence Theory. Our intervention development process follows the Obesity-Related Behavioral Intervention Trials (ORBIT) model to develop and evaluate complex interventions.
  • Design and Procedures: A single-group pre- and post-test clinical trial design will be applied. A total of 20 dyads of AYA with cancer will be recruited. Each AYA will be asked to think of three to five of their primary nurses as audiences of their stories created during the 5-week online storytelling intervention. The AYA participant will create digital stories about themselves following the guiding questions. The dyad will then participate in weekly online meetings with nursing research staff, during which they will introduce their stories and discuss their reflections. Participants will complete pre- (T1) and post-intervention (T2) measures and share their qualitative feedback.
  • Implications for Practice: Results will serve as the foundational knowledge to conduct a large-scale, randomized clinical trial. Ultimately, this study will promote well-being and improve palliative and psychosocial nursing care to individuals with serious illness, including AYA with cancer.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

[Inclusion Criteria] 1.1 AYA ages 15 to 25 years. Age criterion was determined based on (a) the age criteria of adolescence (15-17 years) and emerging adulthood (18-25 years) guided by lifespan developmental frameworks35 and (b) the intervention being developmentally appropriate for this unique age group.

1.2 Patients must have any type of histologically or cytologically confirmed malignancy during adolescence or young adulthood.

1.3 Patients may be at any stage of the cancer trajectory. Participants can be enrolled beginning one month after an initial cancer diagnosis.

1.4 Patients must be cognitively intact.

1.5 Patients must have access to the internet using their own electronic devices (e.g., laptop, desktop, tablet PC, smartphone).

1.6 Ability to speak, write, read, understand English.

[Exclusion Criteria] 2.1 Patients who have any unanticipated needs that cannot be accommodate by the PI (e.g., technical challenges, permanent loss of electronic devices, permanently unable to access the internet) can be excluded before and during the participation.

2.2 Patients who show their unwillingness to participate in the program by their actions (e.g., providing false information, just giggling rather than answering questions, increases in aggression or anxiety) can be discussed to make a decision about honoring their desire to withdraw from participation.

Treatment and study plan

Nurse-patient dyadic storytelling intervention

Behavioral

During the 5-week online intervention, adolescents/young adults with cancer will create their stories following the guiding questions and online meetings with nursing research staff. The target audience of their stories will be their primary nurses. This online dyadic storytelling intervention is designed to promote in-depth self-reflection and meaningful and therapeutic relationships within bedside nurses. The intervention is designed following the Story Theory and Pennebaker's Expressive Writing paradigm.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Secure Flourish Measure (Adolescent Version)

    Time frame: Day 0, Day 35

    A 12-item 10-point Likert scale measure ranging from 0 (Not Satisfied at Aall) to 10 (Completely Satisfied) to assess adolescents' level of human flourishing. This measure is tailored to adolescents (12-18 years old).

  2. Change in Secure Flourish Measure (Adult Version)

    Time frame: Day 0, Day 35

    A 12-item 10-point Likert scale measure ranging from 0 (Not Satisfied at All) to 10 (Completely Satisfied) to assess young adults' level of human flourishing. This measure is tailored to individuals over 18 years old.

  3. Change in Herth Hope Index Scale

    Time frame: Day 0, Day 35

    A 12-item 4-point Likert scale measure ranging from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 4 (Strongly Agree) to assess hope in adolesents and young adults with cancer.

  4. Change in Perceived Social Support from Health Care Professionals

    Time frame: Day 0, Day 35

    A 20-item 5-point Likert scale measure ranging from 1 (Totally Disagree) to 5 (Totally Agree) to asess adolescent/young adults' perceived social support from health care providers

  5. Change in Self-transcendence Scale

    Time frame: Day 0, Day 35

    A 15-item 4-point Likert scale measure ranging from 1 (Not at All) to 4 (Very Much) to assess the level of self-transcendence in adolescents/young adults with cancer

  6. Change in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) 29 v. 2.1 (Adult Version)

    Time frame: Day 0, Day 35

    A measure consists of 28 5-point Likert scale items and one 11-point Likert scale item (asking about general pain) to assess the self-perceived health related quality of life in young adults with cancer

  7. Change in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) 25 v. 2.0 (Adolescent Version)

    Time frame: Day 0, Day 35

    A measure consists of 24 5-point Likert scale items and one 11-point Likert scale item (asking about general pain) to assess the self-perceived health related quality of life in adolescents with cancer

  8. Satisfaction Survey

    Time frame: Day 35

    A 16-item survey to assess participants' satisfaction of the intervention program. Ten 7-point Likert scale items assess satisfaction, and 6 items assess perceived benefits of the intervention.

  9. System Usability Survey

    Time frame: Day 35

    A 10-item survey to assess participants' perceived usability of the intervention program. This scale uses 5-point Likert scale (range from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Vanderbilt University

Other

Collaborators

  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Registry information

Official study title

Assessing the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of an Expressive Storytelling Intervention for Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer to Share Stories With Oncology Nurses

Acronym: ESSAY

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Apr 22, 2021
Registry last updated
Jun 14, 2022

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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