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Web-Based Toolkit for Emotional Distress in Rural Cancer Survivors

This study is testing a web-based toolkit called CONNECT to help rural older cancer survivors manage emotional distress and anxiety. Many rural cancer survivors struggle with identifying anxiety symptoms and accessing mental health services. The CONNECT toolkit offers interactive activities for setting up telehealth visits and provides educational materials about cancer-related distress. The study aims to see if this toolkit can reduce cancer-related distress, which will be measured using a validated 23-item scale over up to one year. You might be eligible if you are an adult (18+) healthcare professional, patient advocate, researcher, or administrator, invited by the study team, and speak English. The study plans to enroll 578 participants.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 578 participants. It involves educational interventions, internet-based interventions using the CONNECT platform, and interviews.
What's involved
You would receive educational materials, access to the CONNECT platform, and complete interviews and small group workshops.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your cancer-related distress will be measured for up to one year.

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NCT07290543

Web-Based Toolkit to Improve Cancer-Related Emotional Distress and Anxiety in Rural Older Cancer Survivors

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalSupportive care
Northwestern University
~578 participants
Updated 2025-12-18 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Educational InterventionInternet-Based InterventionInterviewPatient NavigationSurvey AdministrationTelephone-Based Intervention

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Cancer Related Distress (validated 23-item scale)
Measured over Up to 1 year

Conditions

Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm
Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Explore related trials

Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System NeoplasmMalignant Solid Neoplasm

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Illinois1

Study leadership

  • Marquita W Lewis, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Northwestern University

Who to contact

Study Coordinator
[email protected]
312-503-1986
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

AIM 1: Invited by a member of the study team
AIM 1: In the following or related field:
Healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc.)
Patient advocates and representatives
Researchers in healthcare or technology fields
Healthcare administrators and managers
AIM 1: Must be over 18 years old
AIM 1: English-speaking
AIM 1: Willing and able to provide informed consent
AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): A rural resident based on the Health Resources \& Services Administration (HRSA) rural analyzer
AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Self-report of diagnosis with any cancer
AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Self-report posttreatment (i.e., completion of curative intent therapy including surgery, chemotherapy, molecularly targeted, and endocrine therapy)
AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Have access to a computer, a smartphone, or a tablet computer
AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Aged \> 65 years old
AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Assessed as having Cancer and Treatment Distress scale (CTXD) scores \> 0.85 at screening
AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Have a caregiver willing to participate
AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Non-institutionalized
AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): English proficient
AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Willing and able to provide informed consent
AIM 2 (CAREGIVER): An identified informal caregiver of an eligible ROCS (caregivers include, but are not limited to, a child, partner, or friend; caregivers can reside in a rural or urban area and may or may not live with the ROCS
AIM 2 (CAREGIVER): Have internet access
AIM 2 (CAREGIVER): ≥ 18 years old
AIM 2 (CAREGIVER): Non-institutionalized
AIM 2 (CAREGIVER): English proficient
AIM 2 (CAREGIVER): Willing and able to provide informed consent
AIM 3 (FINAL WORKSHOP): Includes providers, medical and practice managers, patient care coordinators, and medical health technologists

Exclusion

AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Experience a cancer recurrence or a new cancer diagnosis during their participation in the trial because of the body of literature that reports increased distress associated with cancer recurrence
AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS AND CAREGIVER): Are inpatients
AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS AND CAREGIVER): Cognitive impairment precludes the ability to provide written consent

What this trial measures

  • Cancer Related Distress (validated 23-item scale)Up to 1 year

    Cancer-related distress will be measured using the Cancer and Treatment Distress Scale (23 items; item scores 0-3; higher scores indicate greater distress). The CTXD assesses distress over the past week and includes six subscales: (1) uncertainty, (2) family strain, (3) health burden, (4) finances, (5) identity/appearance, and (6) medical demands. The primary outcome is the mean cumulative score across all items and subscales. A mean score above 0.85 indicates elevated distress in long-term survivors. The CTXD has demonstrated high validity and reliability across time, from pre-treatment to 18 years post-treatment, with Cronbach's alphas ranging from 0.77 to 0.90. The subscales align with the psychosocial domain identified in the NCCN Guidelines for Distress Management.