Stress and Communication Skills Training for Cancer

Overseen By Kelly Trevino, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Must not be taking: Antipsychotics, Substance use treatments

Disqualifiers: Schizophrenia, Substance use, Bipolar, Hospice, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to help cancer patients and their caregivers manage stress and improve communication about the illness. It tests two versions of a support program: one specifically adapted for Latinx participants and another general version. The goal is to enhance quality of life and facilitate discussions about treatment preferences. Participants will attend weekly 45-minute sessions. The trial is suitable for Latinx patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers who can attend sessions in New York and speak English or Spanish. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to research that may enhance support for cancer patients and their caregivers.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on communication and emotional support, so it's unlikely that medication changes are required, but you should confirm with the study team.

What prior data suggests that this intervention is safe for patients and caregivers?

Research shows that stress management and communication skills training are usually manageable for participants. Studies on similar programs have demonstrated good results without major safety issues. For instance, self-guided stress management training boosted mental well-being in patients receiving chemotherapy without significant side effects. Additionally, online communication training for caregivers successfully helped them manage difficult conversations.

Overall, these programs aim to enhance emotional and communication skills and are generally safe for participants. They seek to reduce stress and improve quality of life, making them a low-risk choice for those involved. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it offers a fresh approach to improving the well-being of Latino/a advanced cancer patients and their caregivers through stress and communication skills training. Unlike traditional treatments that focus primarily on medical interventions, this method emphasizes emotional and interpersonal support, which can be crucial for coping with cancer's challenges. By providing weekly 45-minute sessions, the trial aims to enhance patients' and caregivers' ability to manage stress and communicate effectively, potentially improving their quality of life significantly. This trial could pave the way for integrating psychological and emotional support into standard cancer care, offering a holistic approach to treatment.

What evidence suggests that this intervention could be effective for improving communication skills and managing emotions in cancer patients and their caregivers?

This trial will evaluate stress and communication skills training for Latino/a advanced cancer patients and their caregivers. Research has shown that managing stress and improving communication can benefit cancer patients and their caregivers. Studies have found that these activities can lower stress and facilitate discussions about treatment choices. Specifically, one study in Spanish found that stress management during chemotherapy reduced stress levels. Additionally, programs tailored for Latino patients have improved future care planning, enhancing quality of life. This suggests that culturally adapted programs can effectively help manage emotions and improve communication for both patients and caregivers. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kelly Trevino, PhD

Principal Investigator

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Latino/a patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers, who are fluent in English or Spanish, reside in New York, and can communicate by phone. Patients must have discussed prognosis with their oncologist and not be receiving hospice care. Caregivers need to provide support without pay and have experience working with advanced cancer patients.

Inclusion Criteria

Has a primary informal caregiver (as defined by an unpaid individual who provides the patient with emotional, physical, and/or practical support) who is willing and able to participate in the study

For Patients:

Self-identifies as Latino/a

Exclusion Criteria

As per medical record or self-report, currently being treated for schizophrenia, substance use or dependence, and/or bi-polar disorder

For Patients

Both dyad members respond "b" or "d" on the item in Appendix K, "How would you describe your/the patient"s health status: a) Relatively healthy, b) Relatively healthy and terminally ill, c) Seriously ill but not terminally ill, or d) Seriously and terminally ill" and respond "months" on the item "When you think about your/the patient's life expectancy, do you think in terms of months or years."

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants and their caregivers receive a culturally tailored or non-tailored intervention to improve communication and manage emotions related to cancer

8 weeks

Weekly sessions (in-person or virtual)

Follow-up

Participants and caregivers are monitored for improvements in communication and emotional management

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Weekly 45 minute Sessions

Trial Overview

The study tests a stress management and communication skills intervention tailored for Latinx individuals versus a non-tailored version. Participants will attend weekly 45-minute sessions designed to improve emotional handling, quality of life, understanding of illness, and treatment preferences discussions.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Patients Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Latino/a advanced cancer patients

Group II: Caregivers Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Caregivers of Latino/a advanced cancer patients

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,998

Recruited

602,000+

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Collaborator

Trials

1,103

Recruited

1,157,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a 12-week study involving 80 cancer patients, relaxation training did not show significant differences in anxiety, depression, or psychiatric morbidity compared to a control group at the start, but both groups reported increased symptoms over time, especially in women.

Female patients in the control group consistently reported higher levels of anxiety and depression at 6 and 12 weeks, indicating that relaxation training may not have effectively mitigated emotional distress in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomised controlled study of relaxation training. Bindemann, S., Soukop, M., Kaye, SB.[2019]

The SMART (Stress Management and Resiliency Training) program significantly improved resilience, reduced perceived stress and anxiety, and enhanced quality of life in 25 women with breast cancer over a 12-week period, compared to a control group.

The intervention, which included group training sessions and follow-up calls, was found to be feasible and effective, indicating that brief resilience training can be beneficial for breast cancer patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Stress Management and Resilience Training (SMART) program to decrease stress and enhance resilience among breast cancer survivors: a pilot randomized clinical trial. Loprinzi, CE., Prasad, K., Schroeder, DR., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 172 women with early-stage breast cancer, an 8-week mindfulness-based stress-reduction (MBSR) program significantly improved quality of life and coping strategies compared to a nutrition education program and usual supportive care.

The benefits of MBSR included reductions in depression, anxiety, and emotional distress, although these improvements tended to decline over time, suggesting that MBSR could be a valuable complementary therapy in cancer care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on psychosocial outcomes and quality of life in early-stage breast cancer patients: a randomized trial. Henderson, VP., Clemow, L., Massion, AO., et al.[2022]

Citations

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Stress and Communication Skills Training for Cancer

Trial Overview The study tests a stress management and communication skills intervention tailored for Latinx individuals versus a non-tailored version.

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Coping Skills Practice and Symptom Change

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A virtual communication training program to equip caregivers of patients with recurrent MGs with skills to navigate ACP conversations with patients and ...

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cancer.jmir.org/2025/1/e67131/PDF

Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Interventions ...

A 5-session psychologist cognitive-behavioral intervention delivered by telephone (psychoeducation; coping and stress management skills; problem ...

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journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0266316

Protocol for a randomized controlled trial | PLOS One

This 3-arm randomized controlled trial aims to examine the efficacy of a 6-week mindfulness-based stress management program for allogeneic HCT caregivers.

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Effects of self-directed stress management training and ...

Background: Research has shown that self-directed stress management training improves mental well-being in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

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The application of eHealth in cancer survivorship care: A ...

This article aims to systematically explore existing web-based dyadic interventions for post-treatment cancer survivors and caregivers.