Group Education for Cancer Screening

Overseen By Jose Rauh-Hain, MD,MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Must not be taking: Anti-TNF drugs

Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Hypertension, HIV, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

15 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

To determine the feasibility of a group-based education intervention to improve adherence to recommend surveillance and risk reducing procedures, with a focus at medically underserved women and racial/ethnic minorities with BRCA 1 and 2.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, certain chemotherapeutic or anti-leukemic agents are not allowed during the study, except for specific cases like intrathecal therapy or limited doses of cytarabine and hydroxyurea. It's best to discuss your current medications with the study team.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Education Content in the clinical trial Group Education for Cancer Screening?

Group educational sessions have been shown to be effective in helping cancer patients understand their condition and treatment options. For example, a study at the University of California San Francisco found that breast cancer survivors who attended group educational sessions were more likely to use follow-up care and found the information clear and helpful. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is group education for cancer screening safe for humans?

The research does not provide specific safety data for group education in cancer screening, but community education and outreach events are commonly used in public health without reported safety concerns. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How does group education for cancer screening differ from other treatments?

Group education for cancer screening is unique because it focuses on educating patients in a group setting, which has been shown to increase knowledge and awareness about cancer screening more effectively than individual education. This approach leverages group dynamics to enhance learning and motivation, making it a novel method compared to traditional one-on-one educational sessions. ^{11 12 13 14 15}

Research Team

Jose Rauh-Hain, MD

Principal Investigator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for medically underserved women and racial/ethnic minorities who have BRCA 1 or 2 gene mutations, which are linked to a higher risk of cancer. Participants should be interested in learning about surveillance and procedures to reduce their cancer risk.

Inclusion Criteria

Serum biochemical values within specified limits

My MDS is intermediate/high/very high risk and I've had 0-2 treatments.

I have AML that has come back or didn't respond to treatment, and I'm on my first or second attempt at salvage therapy.

Exclusion Criteria

I do not have any severe or uncontrolled medical conditions.

I had an organ transplant less than 3 months ago.

My condition is currently active and not under control.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive group-based education to improve adherence to surveillance and risk-reducing procedures

3 months

Regular group sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the intervention, including completion of follow-up surveys

9 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Education Content

Trial Overview The study is testing an educational program delivered through group sessions. The goal is to see if this intervention can help participants follow recommended health screenings and preventive measures more closely.

Participant Groups

Group I: Standard of Care Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be randomized into one of two arms through REDCap

Group II: ACT-Together Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be randomized into one of two arms through REDCap

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,107

Recruited

1,813,000+

Findings from Research

Internet-based education significantly improved patients' knowledge levels more than face-to-face education with a nurse in a study involving 147 ambulatory orthopedic surgery patients.

Both education methods were effective in enhancing knowledge, but there was no difference in the sufficiency of knowledge between the two groups, indicating that online education is a viable alternative in ambulatory care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ambulatory orthopaedic surgery patients' knowledge with internet-based education. Heikkinen, K., Leino-Kilpi, H., Salanterä, S.[2017]

Cancer patient education should go beyond just providing information; it must also include teaching coping skills and new strategies to manage the disease, which can lead to better treatment adherence and reduced anxiety.

Focusing on the different phases of cancer care can help identify essential educational content, and ongoing research is crucial for developing effective teaching methods and evaluating their impact on patient outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Information and education across the phases of cancer care. Adams, M.[2019]

Community outreach events for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening can motivate individuals to seek or obtain screening, with 26.7% of participants who were due for screening doing so within 3 months after attending an event.

However, many attendees were already compliant with screening guidelines, indicating that these events may not effectively reach those most in need of screening, particularly if priority audiences are not specifically targeted.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Results from an Evaluation of the Georgia Colorectal Cancer Control Program's Community Education and Outreach Events, 2013. Woodruff, RC., Hermstad, A., Honeycutt, S., et al.[2019]

Most web-based patient education materials on colorectal cancer screening are written at a reading level above the recommended sixth-grade level, making them difficult for many patients to understand.

The materials often lack important health content, such as addressing specific risks for high-risk groups and common barriers to screening, which could hinder patient engagement and screening rates.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Readability, suitability, and health content assessment of web-based patient education materials on colorectal cancer screening. Tian, C., Champlin, S., Mackert, M., et al.[2022]

In a study of 843 high-risk individuals for lung cancer, screening with low-dose computed tomography (LCS) led to increased readiness to quit smoking in 25.7% of participants and improved motivation to quit, although only 1.3% reported actually quitting.

Participants who experienced extreme worry about lung cancer were more likely to be ready to quit smoking and showed higher motivation, suggesting that LCS can serve as a teachable moment for smoking cessation, especially for first-time scan recipients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improved motivation and readiness to quit shortly after lung cancer screening: Evidence for a teachable moment. Williams, RM., Cordon, M., Eyestone, E., et al.[2023]

Cancer patients and their families have diverse psychological and educational needs, prompting healthcare professionals to implement a range of educational activities from one-on-one sessions to group programs across various settings.

Innovative teaching strategies, such as imagery, are being utilized to effectively address these needs, particularly during different phases of the patient's illness, highlighting the importance of tailored educational approaches.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cancer patient education: what, where, and by whom? Crosson, K.[2007]

References

1. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How a cancer education group serves the underserved: 'family' ties and battling cancer. [2012]

2. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ambulatory orthopaedic surgery patients' knowledge with internet-based education. [2017]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Perspectives on cancer patient education. [2019]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Information and education across the phases of cancer care. [2019]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Survivorship clinic group educational sessions: adoption, acceptance, and attendance. [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Change in smoking status after spiral chest computed tomography scan screening. [2007]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Decision-making processes for breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer screening: the DECISIONS survey. [2023]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Results from an Evaluation of the Georgia Colorectal Cancer Control Program's Community Education and Outreach Events, 2013. [2019]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Readability, suitability, and health content assessment of web-based patient education materials on colorectal cancer screening. [2022]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improved motivation and readiness to quit shortly after lung cancer screening: Evidence for a teachable moment. [2023]

11. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effective Educational Approaches to Training Physicians About Lung Cancer Screening. [2022]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cancer patient education: what, where, and by whom? [2007]

13. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interventional Education Methods for Increasing Women's Participation in Breast Cancer Screening Program. [2021]

14. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Qualitative analysis of the questions raised by patients with gynecologic cancers and their relatives in an educational support group. [2015]

15. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Public and professional aspects of the use of education in the control and prevention of cancer. [2015]