Investigating the Feasibility and Acceptability of an Innovative Interdisciplinary Supportive Care Program: Couples Coping Together Against Cancer

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Establish feasibility of The Program and its central components. II. Investigate the acceptability of The Program and its central components.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. Assess the preliminary efficacy of The Program in the domain of patients' and partners' biopsychosocial distress and longitudinal impact of the program on them.

OUTLINE: This is an observational study.

Patient and partners receive access to the Connecting Care App tool and undergo biopsychosocial screening and psychoeducation sessions over 30-45 minutes and complete surveys on study. Patients and partners may also receive counseling sessions over 30-45 minutes for up to 4 sessions on study.

Inclusion criteria

• Have received a diagnosis of a primary brain tumor (glioblastoma), or other cancers (breast, lung, etc.)
• Are new patients to City of Hope (COH) (all sites) or receive at least some of their care at City of Hope- Duarte Campus (care is defined as: procedures, consults, laboratories, imaging, surgery, and/or treatment)
• The patient is in a committed relationship/partnership with a partner and the partner is available and willing to participate
• Are English or Spanish speaking
• ≥ 18 years of age
• Have access to a smartphone, computer/laptop or internet connection to complete all study procedures

Exclusion criteria

• Significant cognitive impairment
• Inpatient psychiatric treatment for severe mental illness or overt signs of severe psychopathology (e.g., psychosis)
• Visual, hearing, voice, or motor impairment that prevents completion of study procedures as evidenced by clinical judgment
• Committed partners will be excluded from the study if they:

• Refuse to complete informed consent
• Have cognitive impairment
• Have severe mental illness that would prevent informed consent and completion of study activities as evidenced by clinical judgment