Assessment of Cancer-related Post-traumatic Stress in Patients and Caregivers in the Year Following Diagnosis, and Identification of Their Expectations of Personalized Support - CANDYSTRESS

Launched by LILLE UNIVERSITY · Apr 23, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The CANDYSTRESS clinical trial is studying the emotional effects that cancer can have on both patients and their caregivers over the year after a cancer diagnosis. Specifically, it aims to understand how these individuals may experience stress and trauma related to cancer and to identify those who are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result. By working closely with patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, the trial seeks to gather insights into what support these groups need and how it can be personalized to help them cope better during this challenging time.

To participate in this trial, patients must be adults who have been recently diagnosed with certain types of cancer and are starting treatment, while caregivers must be individuals designated by the patient who provide support. Participants will take part in online screenings and discussions about their experiences and expectations for support, which will help shape future care strategies. This is an important step in understanding how to better support patients and caregivers as they navigate their cancer journey together.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Part 1. Diagnosis of Ca-PTS
• Patient inclusion criteria:
• • Male or female, 18 years of age or older,
• • recently (\<4 months) diagnosed with breast, gynecological, testicular or digestive cancer at the time of the announcement visit (i.e., the announcement to the patient of the treatment plan after the initial multidisciplinary consultation meeting in the cancer center - in accordance with the Cancer Plan),
• • with cancer requiring oncological treatment,
• • starting oncology treatment at the Oscar Lambret Center,
• • with no Central Nervous System (CNS) metastases,
• • with a PRONOPALL score ≤3 (favorable prognosis group, Bourgeois et al., 2017) or expected survival greater than 6 months,
• • who have given signed consent to participate in the study and are covered by French social security,
• • able to identify a caregiver (i.e., a family member, friend or other person who has helped care for them since diagnosis).
• • equipped with a computer or tablet equipped with a webcam and an internet connection, for the online questionnaire - the webcam is only necessary if the participant wants the IGE to be present via video on the computer, if they prefer the video to be made over the phone, in which case they must also be equipped with a smartphone enabling video calls.
• Inclusion criteria for caregivers:
• • Male or female, 18 years of age or older,
• • designated by the patient as their primary caregiver (i.e. "a family member, friend or other person who has helped care for you since diagnosis"),
• • have given their signed consent to participate in the study.
• • equipped with a computer or tablet equipped with a webcam and an internet connection, for the online questionnaire - the webcam is only necessary if the participant wishes the IGE to be present via video on the computer, if he/she prefers the video to be made over the phone, in which case it is also necessary to be equipped with a smartphone enabling video calls.
• • Part 2. Gathering expectations for personalized support and its components.
• In addition, 3 types of focus groups will be set up remote :
• • Focus groups with patients from local associations, as well as patient partners of the Oscar Lambret Center and patients from Part 1 if they are interested.
• Inclusion criteria for patient focus groups:
• • Men or women of legal age who have or have had cancer,
• • Members of a local patient association or of the Oscar Lambret Center's "patient partners" committee,
• • Or have participated in part 1 (Ca-PTS screening, once the 3 steps have been completed),
• • Equipped with a computer or tablet with camera and internet connection,
• • Have given their consent to take part in the study.
• • Focus group with caregivers from local associations as well as "partner caregivers" from the Oscar Lambret Center and caregivers from part 1 if they are interested.
• Inclusion criteria for "caregiver" focus groups:
• • Men or women of full age who are, or have been, caregivers of a cancer patient,
• • members of a local caregivers' association,
• • or having participated in part 1 (Ca-PTS screening, once the 3 steps have been completed),
• • Equipped with a computer or tablet with camera and internet connection,
• • Having given their consent to take part in the study.
• • Focus groups with hospital medical and paramedical staff as well as non-hospital caregivers involved in the medical in the medical and psychological follow-up of patients.
• Inclusion criteria for caregiver focus groups:
• • Member of the medical and paramedical staff of the Oscar Lambret Center
• • Or non-hospital staff involved in the medical or psychological care of patients,
• • Professionals not involved in the present study,
• • Equipped with a computer or tablet with camera and internet connection
• • Having given their consent to participate in the study
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Part 1. Diagnosis of Ca-PTS
• Non inclusion criteria for patients :
• • Patients with meningeal or cerebral metastases,
• • Patients with cancer recurrence,
• • Patients suffering from a psychiatric or neurological disorder likely to impair their ability to reason or judge (in particular psychotic disorder, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability),
• • Patients with a psychological or physical incapacity to answer questionnaires, certified by medical staff,
• • Patients subject to a custodial sentence, guardianship or protection of vulnerable adults,
• • Presence of CNS metastases (risk of cognitive impairment preventing completion of questionnaires).
• Non-inclusion criteria for caregivers:
• • Caregivers suffering from a psychiatric or neurological disorder likely to impair their ability to reason or exercise judgment judgment (in particular psychotic disorder, autism spectrum disorder intellectual disability), or for whom there is a suspicion (not there is a suspicion (no additional examination is prescribed to confirm this criterion, which remains self-declaratory).
• • Caregivers with a psychological or physical inability to answer questionnaires, or for whom there is a suspicion suspicion (no further tests are required to confirm this criterion which remains self-reported).
• • Caregivers subject to a custodial sentence, guardianship or protection guardianship or protection of vulnerable adults.
• • Part 2. Collection of expectations for personalized support and its components.
• Non-inclusion criteria for patients and caregivers who participated in the screening part of the Ca-PTS :
• • - Failure to complete all measurement times (T0, T1, T2)
• • Non-inclusion criteria for focus groups (patients, caregivers): none