RECRUITING

Virtual Art Therapy Assisted Re-Integration to Improve Biopsychosocial Outcomes in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors, AVATARS Trial

Study Overview

This clinical trial focuses on testing the efficacy of different digital interventions to promote re-engagement in cancer-related long-term follow-up care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer.

Description

This clinical trial tests the feasibility, usability and acceptability of a virtual art therapy assisted re-integration (AVATARS) intervention to improve biopsychosocial outcomes, such as anxiety, depression, resilience, emotional regulation, stress, and cognition, among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. AYA cancer survivors (especially those treated at adult cancer centers) historically experience worse psychosocial outcomes and lack age appropriate psychosocial support compared to older adult cancer survivors. Creative art therapy accesses the limbic system to provide a corrective emotional experience in response to trauma and can help patients visually express depression, anxiety, and existential fears, process traumatic events, and regain agency and control. The AVATARS intervention may be a feasible, useable and acceptable way to improve biopsychosocial outcomes among AYA cancer survivors.

Official Title

AVATARS: Adolescent and Young Adult Virtual Art Therapy Assisted Re-Integration During Cancer Survivorship

Quick Facts

Study Start:2025-07-02
Study Completion:2026-07-15
Study Type:Not specified
Phase:Not Applicable
Enrollment:Not specified
Status:RECRUITING

Study ID

NCT07089927

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.

Ages Eligible for Study:18 Years to 25 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:No
Standard Ages:ADULT
Inclusion CriteriaExclusion Criteria
  1. * Aged 18-25 years of age at the time of enrollment and able to provide informed consent
  2. * Mild or greater depression \[Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-A) score \> 5\]
  3. * Diagnosed with a solid tumor malignancy within past three months (acute survivorship) or completed cancer treatment for a solid tumor malignancy within the past five years (extended survivorship)
  4. * Have access to an electronic device which supports Zoom videoconferencing (e.g., personal device or public library access)
  5. * Able to read and write in English
  1. * Participation in art therapy within the past 12 months
  2. * Visual or cognitive impairment which may impede completing the art project or the data collection measures
  3. * Endorsed suicidality (via PHQ-A or otherwise)

Contacts and Locations

Study Contact

Regina Becker
CONTACT
480-342-6079
Becker.regina@mayo.edu

Principal Investigator

C. Robert Bennett, PhD, RN
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Mayo Clinic

Study Locations (Sites)

Mayo Clinic in Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona, 85259
United States
Mayo Clinic in Rochester
Rochester, Minnesota, 55905
United States

Collaborators and Investigators

Sponsor: Mayo Clinic

  • C. Robert Bennett, PhD, RN, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Mayo Clinic

Study Record Dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

Study Start Date2025-07-02
Study Completion Date2026-07-15

Study Record Updates

Study Start Date2025-07-02
Study Completion Date2026-07-15

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

  • Malignant Solid Neoplasm