Positive Activities Intervention to Improve Quality of Life in Collectivist Culture Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers

Description

This clinical trial studies the feasibility of two positive activities in improving quality of life in collectivist culture cancer patients and their caregivers. Cancer patients of collectivist cultures (e.g., Latinos, Asian Americans, African Americans) have been found to experience lower quality of life and more distress and depression when compared to those of individualist cultures, such as European Americans. Following a cancer diagnosis, collectivist patients may experience a change in their relationships with other family members and their roles within the family. The cancer diagnosis may lead to changes in roles and responsibilities, such as when a male breadwinner is no longer able to work due to hospital treatments. The two positive activities are designed to increase a sense of competence, autonomy, and connectedness, including contributing to household responsibilities (an act of kindness) and writing a letter of gratitude. Performing certain simple activities may improve quality of life in cancer patients and their caregivers.

Conditions

Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Cell Neoplasm, Malignant Solid Neoplasm

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

This clinical trial studies the feasibility of two positive activities in improving quality of life in collectivist culture cancer patients and their caregivers. Cancer patients of collectivist cultures (e.g., Latinos, Asian Americans, African Americans) have been found to experience lower quality of life and more distress and depression when compared to those of individualist cultures, such as European Americans. Following a cancer diagnosis, collectivist patients may experience a change in their relationships with other family members and their roles within the family. The cancer diagnosis may lead to changes in roles and responsibilities, such as when a male breadwinner is no longer able to work due to hospital treatments. The two positive activities are designed to increase a sense of competence, autonomy, and connectedness, including contributing to household responsibilities (an act of kindness) and writing a letter of gratitude. Performing certain simple activities may improve quality of life in cancer patients and their caregivers.

Feasibility of a Positive Activity Intervention in Cancer Patients From Collectivist Cultures

Positive Activities Intervention to Improve Quality of Life in Collectivist Culture Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers

Condition
Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Cell Neoplasm
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Houston

M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States, 77030

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * PATIENTS: Between 35 -70 years of age
  • * PATIENTS: Within 1-5 years of diagnosis and actively undergoing systemic therapy, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, endocrine and radiation therapies
  • * PATIENTS: Self-identify as ethnically one of the 4 ethnic groups of focus: Asian American, African American, Latino, and European American. For collectivist cultures, will aim to recruit patients of who are first- (i.e., immigrated to United States \[US\]) or second-generation (i.e., children of US residents who immigrated to US) immigrants
  • * PATIENTS: Diagnosed with any type of cancer
  • * PATIENTS: Able to identify a caregiver (e.g., family member) who lives in the same household, and who consents to participate in this study
  • * PATIENTS: Able to read, write, and speak in English
  • * PATIENTS: Access to internet, computer or phone, and web browser
  • * CAREGIVERS: Patient considers them as their caregiver
  • * CAREGIVERS: Lives in the same household as patient
  • * CAREGIVERS: Able to read, write, and speak in English
  • * CAREGIVERS: Access to internet, computer or phone, and web browser
  • * CAREGIVERS: Identifies as the same race/ethnicity group as the patient (e.g., European American wife and European American husband, or Asian American wife and Asian American husband would be pairs that are considered eligible)
  • * PATIENTS: Life expectancy less than 6 months in the opinion of the primary physician
  • * PATIENTS: Inability to stand and walk on their own or with other physical limitations that preclude them from participating. (3+ on Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group \[ECOG\] performance status)
  • * PATIENTS: Major depression (e.g., as determined by a score of 10 or higher on the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale \[CES-D\] at baseline, out of 30) or diagnosed prior to study (from patient records and/or self-disclosure by patient)
  • * CAREGIVERS: Unwilling or unable to participate in the study for any reason
  • * CAREGIVERS: Under the age of 18

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center,

Qian Lu, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Study Record Dates

2026-12-01