Grateful Strides Toward Physical Activity and Well-Being for Black Breast Cancer Survivors

University of Florida

Status: Completed

Conditions: Breast Neoplasm Female; Cancer Survivors; Cardiometabolic Syndrome; Psychology, Positive; Women; Feasibility Studies; Exercise; African Americans

Treatments: Behavioral: Gratitude Intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT05473026

IRB202201483

P30AG028740 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This pilot study will assess the feasibility of a gratitude intervention to promote physical activity, and well-being and positively impact biomarkers of health among older African American breast cancer survivors. The intervention will also include a goal-setting component to promote exercise readiness and examine the cultural phenomena of the Superwoman schema among Black women.

Full description

In this pilot feasibility study, the overall aims are:

Aim 1. Assess the feasibility and acceptability of a gratitude journaling intervention using a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) design over eight weeks. We hypothesize that among the 28 participants 1) at least 80% of the participants will report the intervention to be acceptable, 2) biomarker collection will be completed in at least 80% of the surveys and the retention rate will be 80% in each group, and 3) physical activity, health markers, gratitude, well-being, and distress will improve over time.

Aim 2. Describe distributions of outcome variables and effect size for the gratitude journaling intervention on dispositional gratitude, spiritual well-being, psychological distress, exercise readiness, mental and health behaviors in African American/Black women (Superwoman Schema), and inflammatory biomarkers from baseline to post-intervention.

Enrollment: 26 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 50 to 99 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Self-report as AA or Black
• English speaking
• History of BC (Stage I-IV); 3 months to 6 years post-adjuvant chemotherapy
• Participants on hormonal therapies or HER-2 therapy are acceptable

Exclusion criteria

• Self-reported regular meditation or gratitude practices (more than once a week for at least a month)
• Meeting the CDC's physical activity guidelines (at least 150 min of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or 75 min of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination each week)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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26 participants in 2 patient groups

Gratitude Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Each participant will receive a gratitude journal (paperback or electronic journal based on preference) for eight weeks and will have the following journaling prompt to complete at least twice a week: "There are many things in our lives, both large and small, that we might be grateful about. Think back over the day and write down on the line below all that you are grateful for today" (maximum six reasons). The educational goal-setting component will be drawn from the American Cancer Society's Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Cancer toolkit. Participants will be able to choose the order in which they complete the goal-setting modules. Both exercises will be administered daily over eight weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Gratitude Intervention

Attention Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Each participant will receive a journal (paperback or electronic journal based on preference) Participants will receive the following general journaling prompt to complete at least twice a week: "What are some memorable events that happened to you today, big, or small (maximum six memories). Write a brief statement about it.