Developing a Culturally Relevant Supportive Care Program for Black Patients Dealing With Advanced Cancer

Launched by M.D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER · Feb 28, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is focused on creating a supportive care program specifically designed for Black patients who are dealing with advanced cancer. The researchers want to understand how to best support these patients through a program called Meditation-Based Support-Adapted (MBS-A), which includes techniques like meditation. To start, they will gather feedback from patients and their caregivers through surveys and interviews to find out what kind of program—whether focused on families or groups—will work best. After that, they will test the new program to see how effective it is compared to a different supportive intervention.

To participate, you need to be at least 18 years old, identify as Black or African American, and have been diagnosed with a stage III or IV solid tumor. You should also be currently receiving treatment and have access to the internet. If the program involves family participation, you will need a caregiver who lives with you and meets certain criteria. This trial is currently recruiting participants, and those involved can expect to provide input on a support program that aims to cater to their unique needs, helping them cope with their cancer journey.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• For Aim 1, in order to be eligible to participate in this study, a patient must meet all of the following criteria:
• • Self-identifies as Black/African American
• • Is ≥18 years old
• • Was diagnosed with a stage III-IV solid tumor
• • Is able to provide informed consent
• For Aims 2 and 3, in order to be eligible to participate in this study, a patient must meet all of the following criteria:
• • Self-identifies as Black/African American
• • Is ≥18 years old
• • Was diagnosed with a stage III-IV solid tumor
• • Is on active treatment (any line)
• • Has an ECOG performance status of ≤2
• • Has access to the internet
• • Is able to provide informed consent
• For Aims 2 and 3, if a family-based intervention is selected as the program format, a patient must meet the additional following criterion:
• • • Has a family caregiver (e.g., spouse, adult child) with whom they currently reside
• Also, if a family-based intervention is selected as the program format, a caregiver must meet all of the following criteria:
• • Is ≥18 years old
• • Has access to the internet
• • Is able to provide informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • For Aim 1, there are no exclusion criteria.
• For Aims 2 and 3, a patient who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
• • Is pregnant
• • Has cognitive deficits that would impede the completion of self-report instruments as deemed by the clinical team
• • Participated in in the Aim 1 of this study