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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT00070421

Study of @neWorld: A Virtual Community for Children With Cancer

RATIONALE: Using an Internet Web site that enables children with cancer to interact online with classmates, participate in classroom activities, get easy-to-read medical information, and chat with family members, medical staff, and other children with cancer may help children cope with isolation, fear, and decreased self-esteem.

PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the effectiveness of an Internet Web site in providing social support and education to children who are undergoing treatment for cancer.

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Key information

Conditions

Leukemia Burkitt Lymphoma DNA Virus Infections Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Interdigitating Disease Attributes Epstein-Barr Virus Infections Hematologic Diseases Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases Herpesviridae Infections Histiocytic Disorders, Malignant Histiocytosis Immune System Diseases Immunoproliferative Disorders Infections Leukemia, Lymphoid Lymphatic Diseases Lymphoma Lymphoma, B-Cell Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoproliferative Disorders Neoplasms Neoplasms by Histologic Type Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma Psychosocial Effects of Cancer and Its Treatment Recurrence Tumor Virus Infections Unspecified Childhood Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific Virus Diseases

Age range

10 year–15 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1 / Phase 2

Primary location

Leap of Faith Technologies, Incorporated

Crystal Lake, Illinois, 60014, United States

About this study

OBJECTIVES:

  • Develop an Internet-based application that allows pediatric patients with cancer to enter a virtual community with the following capabilities:
  • Interact with classmates and participate in classroom activities via e-mail, chat groups, online field trips, art studio, music room, and game room
  • Identify and interact with a community of peers with similar medical conditions
  • Access a dictionary to get medical information in understandable terms
  • Interact with the medical community online
  • Interact with family members online
  • Determine the acceptability of this program among groups of these patients and their classmates, teachers, family members, and healthcare providers using focus groups.
  • Determine the effect of this program on self-esteem, coping behaviors, perceived social support, cancer-relevant medical knowledge, and feelings of control over health destiny in these patients.
  • Determine the effect of this program on the performance of these patients in school.
  • Determine the effect of this program in alleviating psychological distress in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

  • Phase I: Students, family members, teachers, and health providers participate in focus groups to provide system design and implementation input and to assess overall acceptability of a prototype Internet-based application for pediatric cancer patients.
  • Phase II: Patients are assigned to 1 of 2 groups, based on participating center.
  • Group 1: Patients have access to and utilize the Internet-based application @neWorld.
  • Group 2: Patients do not have access to or utilize @neWorld. In both groups, patients complete questionnaires measuring psychological distress, quality of life, self-esteem, coping behaviors, perceived academic and social competence, perceived social support, cancer-relevant medical knowledge, feelings of control over health destiny, utilization of psychological services, and performance in school at baseline and 3 and 6 months.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 94 patients (44 for group 1 and 50 for group 2) will be accrued for this study.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Diagnosis of cancer
  • Currently receiving treatment for cancer

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

  • 10 to 15

Performance status

  • Active

Life expectancy

  • Not specified

Hematopoietic

  • Not specified

Hepatic

  • Not specified

Renal

  • Not specified

Other

  • Able to read and speak English

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

  • Not specified

Chemotherapy

  • Not specified

Endocrine therapy

  • Not specified

Radiotherapy

  • Not specified

Surgery

  • Not specified

Treatment and study plan

complementary or alternative medicine procedure

Procedure

management of therapy complications

Procedure

psychosocial assessment and care

Procedure

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Leap of Faith Technologies

Industry

Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Registry information

Official study title

@neWorld: A Virtual Community For Kids With Cancer

Important dates

Study start
2003
Study completion
2005
First posted
Oct 7, 2003
Registry last updated
May 15, 2013

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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