Coping Skills Training for Symptom Management and Daily Steps (Step Up)

Launched by DUKE UNIVERSITY · Aug 27, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Step Up trial is studying a new program designed to help patients who have undergone a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) manage their symptoms better. This program combines in-person meetings and mobile health tools to teach coping skills and encourage physical activity, which can help reduce pain, fatigue, and stress. The goal is to improve the daily lives of patients recovering from treatments for blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be over 18 years old and have had an autologous HCT due to a blood cancer. They should also be experiencing some level of fatigue, pain, or psychological distress. Importantly, participants need to expect to live for at least another year. However, people with severe cognitive issues or certain psychiatric conditions will not be able to participate. This trial is not yet recruiting, but it aims to provide valuable insights into how patients can better cope with their recovery challenges.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • receipt of an autologous (auto) HCT due to a hematologic malignancy, such as a diagnosis of leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma
• • age \>18
• • self-reported fatigue, pain, and psychological distress (confirmed at recruitment) - minimum two of three symptoms reported at \>3 on 0-10 scale
• • life expectancy \> 12 months
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia) recorded in the chart or suspected by provider
• • metastases to the brain
• • presence of a severe psychiatric condition (e.g., psychotic disorder) that would contraindicate safe participation as indicated by the medical chart, treating oncologist, or interactions with the medical/study staff
• • inability to converse in English