A Culturally Sensitive Social Support Intervention (JLA)

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Status: Completed

Conditions: Breast Cancer; Breast Neoplasms

Treatments: Behavioral: Social support intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT02946697

PA18-0280

R01CA180896 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

16402-02 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the impact of a culturally based social support program (i.e. Joy Luck Academy, JLA) among Chinese American breast cancer survivors.

Full description

This study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test the health benefits of an education and peer mentor support intervention. Chinese American breast cancer survivors who have completed primary treatment will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or a control group to receive enhanced usual care while waiting for the JLA. Health outcomes are assessed at baseline, immediately post intervention, and 1 and 4 months follow-ups.

Enrollment: 168 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• self-identified to be comfortable speaking Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese)
• having a first breast cancer diagnosis of stages 0-III
• having completed primary treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy) within the last 36 months

Exclusion criteria

• unable to read or speak Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese)
• breast cancer diagnosis of stage IV
• live outside of the LA area

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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168 participants in 2 patient groups

Enhanced care and wait-list control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in the control group will receive enhanced usual care while waiting for the JLA program. Participants will be given information booklets in Chinese developed by the American Cancer Society and cover common issues related to breast cancer, various treatments, and life after treatment. Participants will be asked to read through the booklet individually.

Social support intervention group

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention is a 7-week program includes educational and peer mentoring support components. The education curriculum provides information on recognizing side effects of treatment and differentiating them from symptoms of cancer recurrence, physical therapy and alternative treatment, stress management, recognizing depression and managing emotional problems, communication with family members, and body image. The peer-support component assigns each participant with a mentor who is a breast cancer survivor. They share their own experience with participants and also make weekly phone calls to mentees during the intervention to provide support and address remaining concerns.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Social support intervention