Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Effectiveness of the "Living with Cancer" peer self-management support program for persons with advanced cancer and their relatives: study protocol of a non-randomized stepped wedge study.
Luu, K L; Witkamp, F E; Nieboer, D; Bakker, E M; Kranenburg, L W; van der Rijt, C C D; Lorig, K; van der Heide, A; Rietjens, J A C.
Affiliation
  • Luu KL; Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. k.luu@erasmusmc.nl.
  • Witkamp FE; Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
  • Nieboer D; Center of Expertise Innovations in Care, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
  • Bakker EM; Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
  • Kranenburg LW; Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
  • van der Rijt CCD; Department of Psychiatry, Section Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
  • Lorig K; Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
  • van der Heide A; Stanford School of Medicine, CA, Stanford, USA.
  • Rietjens JAC; Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
BMC Palliat Care ; 21(1): 107, 2022 Jun 13.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35692043
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Persons with advanced cancer and their relatives experience physical, emotional, and psychosocial consequences of the illness. Most of the time, they must deal with these themselves. While peer self-management support programs may be helpful, there is little evidence on their value for this population. We present the research protocol of our SMART study that will evaluate the effectiveness of the "Living with Cancer" peer self-management support program, aimed at improving self-management behaviors, self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life of persons with advanced cancer and their relatives.

METHODS:

We will conduct a non-randomized stepped wedge study in the Netherlands. We will include 130 persons with advanced cancer and 32 relatives. Participants can choose to either start the program within 4 weeks after inclusion or after eight to 10 weeks. The "Living with Cancer" is a peer self-management support program, based on the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. It consists of six 1,5 hours video-conferencing group meetings with eight to 12 participants, preceded by two or three preparatory audio clips with supportive text per session. The program has the following core components the learning of self-management skills (action-planning, problem-solving, effective communication, and decision-making), discussing relevant themes (e.g. dealing with pain and fatigue, living with uncertainty, and future planning), and sharing experiences, knowledge, and best practices. The primary outcome for both persons with advanced cancer and relatives is self-management behavior assessed by the subscale "constructive attitudes and approaches" of the Health Education Impact Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes are other self-management behaviors, self-efficacy, health-related quality of life, symptoms, depression and anxiety, and loneliness. Participants complete an online questionnaire at baseline, and after eight and 16 weeks. After each session, they complete a logbook about their experiences. Group meetings will be video recorded.

DISCUSSION:

SMART aims to evaluate an innovative program building on an evidence-based self-management program. New features are its use for persons with advanced cancer, the inclusion of relatives, and the video-conferencing format for this population. The use of both quantitative and qualitative analyses will provide valuable insight into the effectiveness and value of this program. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study was registered in the Dutch Trial Register on October 2021, identifier NL9806 .
Subject(s)
Key words

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Self-Management / Neoplasms Type of study: Clinical_trials / Evaluation_studies / Guideline / Qualitative_research Aspects: Patient_preference Limits: Humans Language: En Journal: BMC Palliat Care Year: 2022 Document type: Article

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Self-Management / Neoplasms Type of study: Clinical_trials / Evaluation_studies / Guideline / Qualitative_research Aspects: Patient_preference Limits: Humans Language: En Journal: BMC Palliat Care Year: 2022 Document type: Article