Tailored Web-Based Intervention for Cancer Patients and Family Caregivers

This R21 will be used to develop an individually tailored, interactive, web-based intervention for cancer patients (lung, colorectal, breast, prostate) and their family caregivers. This intervention is based on an efficacious, family-based program of care (the FOCUS Program) that has been tested previously in three large randomized clinical trials with positive outcomes for patients and their caregivers. In this R21 we will translate this primarily face-to-face, family-based program to an internet-based version.

The objectives are: Objective 1. To develop an individually-tailored, interactive, web-based and email-based, Family Involvement Module. We will conduct formative testing while developing the module using qualitative data obtained from four focus groups. We will conduct usability testing of the near final module with data obtained from qualitative interviews with patients and caregivers as they complete web-based task assignments using a "think aloud" protocol while they navigate the module. Objective 2. To conduct a Phase II study with cancer patients and their family caregiver (N = 40 dyads) using baseline (Time 1) and two-month follow-up assessments (Time 2). Between Times 1 and 2, all participants jointly will complete the web-based Family Involvement Module. We will determine the feasibility of delivering the web-based module and will obtain a process evaluation completed by study participants. Data will be obtained from three large cancer centers using established instruments, and analyzed with descriptive statistics and paired t-tests. Findings from this R21 will provide data that are essential to test this innovative, tailored, interactive web-based intervention with a larger sample in a R01.

Inclusion criteria

• cancer patients with confirmed diagnosis of breast, colorectal, lung or prostate cancer
• early stage (I or II, diagnosed within past 2 to 12 months) OR advanced stage (III or IV, diagnosed or progressed within past 2 to 12 months)
• age 18 or older
• physically/mentally able to participate
• speak/read/write English
• have access to internet at home
• have a family caregiver willing to participate
• family caregivers must be age 18 or older, physically/mentally able to participate, able to speak/read/write English, identified by the patient as his or her primarily family caregiver, and have access to and willing to use the internet. "Family caregiver" is defined as the family member or significant other identified by the patient as his or her primary source of emotional or physical support during the current cancer experience and confirmed by the designated individual.

Exclusion criteria

• Family caregivers will be excluded from the study if they themselves have been diagnosed with cancer in the previous year or are receiving active treatment for cancer. This criteria was established so all dyads are managing effects of cancer in patients, not the family caregivers.