NCT04867122

Problem-Solving Therapy for Cancer Caregivers in Outpatient Palliative Care

Problem-Solving Therapy for Cancer Caregivers: A Randomized Clinical Trial in Outpatient Palliative Care

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 532 (actual)
• Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study is a randomized clinical trial of a problem-solving therapy intervention for family caregivers of individuals with cancer receiving outpatient palliative care.

Detailed description

This study is a randomized clinical trial of a problem-solving therapy intervention for family caregivers of individuals with cancer receiving outpatient palliative care. Study participants will be randomized to receive either a three-session problem-solving therapy intervention in addition to usual care or three sessions of attention-matched control in addition to usual care.

Conditions

• Depression, Anxiety
• Palliative Care
• Caregivers
• Cancer

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Problem-Solving Therapy	Over an approximately 3-week period, family caregivers randomized to the intervention study arm will learn and apply a problem-solving approach based on the ADAPT model, which encourages participants to follow five steps when solving caregiving problems: 1) focus on adopting a positive attitude to problem solving, 2) define the problem and set goals, 3) generate a list of alternative solutions to the problem, 4) predict consequences of the alternative solutions, and 5) try implementing the most promising solution from among the list of alternatives. The intervention will be delivered by a trained interventionist over the course of three structured sessions via telephone or videoconferencing technology, depending on the FCG's preference. Session content will be summarized in an intervention manual, which we will provide to all intervention participants. Sessions will last approximately 45-60 minutes.
OTHER	Attention-matched Control	Over an approximately 3-week period, family caregivers randomized to the attention control study arm will participate in informal conversations ("friendly visits") with a trained member of the research team.
OTHER	In-depth interviews	The 30 key stakeholders interviews will discuss how the PST intervention fits into existing clinical practice and institutional values, what might incentivize adoption of the PST intervention, and how the intervention compares to alternative existing or proposed programs.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-01-24
• Primary completion: 2025-12-01
• Completion: 2025-12-01
• First posted: 2021-04-30
• Last updated: 2026-01-08

Locations

3 sites across 1 country: United States