Meaning-Centered Intervention for Muslim Patients Who Are Being Treated for Advanced Cancer

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Advanced Cancer

Treatments: Other: Attention control supportive care; Other: Masterful supportive care

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04435444

20-018

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will compare the effectiveness of the Masterful supportive care intervention with that of the non-faith-based active control supportive care intervention, which uses the American Cancer Society's patient education materials, for Muslim patients who have advanced cancers.

All 3 sessions may occur within one week or over multiple weeks (nonconsecutively), depending on the participants preference. The participant will have up to 12 weeks from recruitment to complete all sessions and follow up surveys.

Enrollment: 19 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• ≥ 18 years of age
• identify, either as self-report or on the MSKCC EMR, as Muslim
• are in treatment including surveillance, for a confirmed diagnosis of stage III or IV cancer (solid or liquid) as per clinician or pathology report
• have an estimated life expectancy of at least 6 months, as determined by their primary oncologist
• are cognitively intact (oncologist's clinical impression or judgement of study staff)
• able to speak and read English or Arabic (self-reported preference or on the MSKCC EMR system).
• To assess English proficiency, participants will be asked two questions: (1) the Census limited English proficient item "How well do you speak English?" with response options "Not at all, Not well, Well, or Very well" and (2) "What is your preferred language for healthcare?"
• Participants who are eligible for the study and are fluent in English will be identified by the response "Very well" to the 1st question and a response indicating English as the preferred language for healthcare.

Exclusion criteria

• Major psychiatric illness or cognitive impairment that in the judgment of the study investigators or study staff would preclude study participation
• patients diagnosed with primary brain tumors as per clinician report, as they may have difficulty completing the intervention and answering the questionnaires
• undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) as per clinican report or the EMR
• currently in psychotherapeutic treatment. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are common among patients with stage III or IV cancer. Antidepressants, anxiolytics, and other psychotropic medications do not diminish the effects of psychotherapy; thus we will not exclude patients who are being treated with these medications, as long as they are not in psychotherapy.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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19 participants in 2 patient groups

Masterful supportive care

Experimental group

Description:

This intervention uses teachings, discussions, and exercises about personal experiences that focus on specific topics related to meaning and cancer. For example, we may discuss what is meaningful in your life, how you identify yourself before and after cancer, and your hopes for the future. The Masterful intervention is available in both English and Arabic, and it will be delivered by a trained bilingual member of the study team. It includes 3 weekly (or at participant's preference) 1-hour sessions with a member of the study team. The sessions for either the treatment or the control arm will take place in-person in a private room at MSKCC or via teleconference, depending on the patients preference. Meeting one-on-one with an interventionist was feasible in our pilot study and will enhance relationship-building between interventionist and patient. Participants will have the option to meet with the interventionist via teleconference in order to reduce in-person contact burden.

Treatment:

Other: Masterful supportive care

Attention control supportive care

Active Comparator group

Description:

This intervention uses the American Cancer Society's patient education materials. These sessions will include discussions about managing a self-identified current problem in your life. The attention control supportive care intervention is available in both English and Arabic, and it will be delivered by a trained bilingual member of the study team. It includes 3 weekly (or at participant's preference) 1-hour sessions with a member of the study team. The sessions for either the treatment or the control arm will take place in-person in a private room at MSKCC or via teleconference, depending on the patients preference. Meeting one-on-one with an interventionist was feasible in our pilot study and will enhance relationship-building between interventionist and patient. Participants will have the option to meet with the interventionist via teleconference in order to reduce in-person contact burden.

Treatment:

Other: Attention control supportive care