Writing About Experiences With Ovarian Cancer

University of Maryland

Status: Completed

Conditions: Ovarian Cancer

Treatments: Behavioral: Fact Writing (Control); Behavioral: Expressive Writing

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02593422

728101-3

Details and patient eligibility

About

This online study aims to understand whether writing about one's experiences with ovarian cancer may be beneficial for psychological and physical wellbeing in women with a history of ovarian cancer. Investigators are also interested in studying how certain individual characteristics may impact the effectiveness of writing. Participants will be asked to complete an initial survey (15 min), followed by writing about their experiences with ovarian cancer on four occasions (20 - 25 min each), over the course of two weeks. A final survey (10 min) will be completed one month afterwards.

Full description

The purpose of this randomized controlled experiment is to examine the effects of writing about experiences with ovarian cancer on psychological and physical outcomes in English-speaking women with a history of ovarian cancer. It will also examine how certain individual characteristics may impact the effectiveness of the writing interventions for different women. After completing an initial survey, women will be asked to write about their experiences with ovarian cancer on 4 separate occasions of 20-25 min each in the course of 2 weeks. A final survey will be completed one month after the last writing session. The entire study will be conducted online.

Enrollment: 73 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Women with a history of ovarian cancer (any stage)
• At least 18 years old
• English-speaking/Can comfortably read and write in English
• Able to provide informed consent
• Internet access
• Valid email address
• Any region/country

Exclusion criteria

• Minors (younger than 18)
• Lack of English proficiency
• Inability to provide informed consent
• Male

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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73 participants in 2 patient groups

Expressive Writing

Experimental group

Description:

Writing about ovarian cancer: Participants will be asked to write about their deepest thoughts and emotions about their experience with ovarian cancer

Treatment:

Behavioral: Expressive Writing

Fact Writing (Control)

Active Comparator group

Description:

Writing about ovarian cancer: Participants will be asked to write about the facts of their experience with ovarian cancer

Treatment:

Behavioral: Fact Writing (Control)