RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT07173205

Optimizing the AYA Survivors' Coping and Emotional Needs Toolkit

R00 Full Factorial Trial: Optimizing ASCENT

Sponsor

East Carolina University

Enrollment

208 participants

Start Date

Oct 25, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Cancer Depression Adult Adolescent Young Adult

Summary

Our team has developed a digital intervention that aims to help adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (AYAs) manage symptoms of depression. This tool includes one psychoeducation component and four components that are based on evidence-based interventions for depression. The goal of this study is to test which component or combination of components meaningfully contribute to improvements in depressive symptoms among AYAs.

Eligibility

Min Age: 15 YearsMax Age: 39 Years

Inclusion Criteria5

Age at enrollment (adolescents 15-17, emerging adults 18-25, young adults 26-39)
Age at diagnosis (adolescents 12-17, emerging adults 15-25, young adults 15-39)
Time since completion of treatment: 1 month to 5 years
Language: Fluent in English (spoken and written)
Technology: Own smart phone with data plan

Exclusion Criteria2

Mental Health: Current diagnosis of severe or persistent mental illness
Suicidality: Severe suicidal ideation (including plan and intent)

Interventions

BEHAVIORALAYA Survivors Coping and Emotional Needs Toolkit (ASCENT)

Participants will receive access to a digital depression self-management tool (ASCENT), which aims to help AYAs manage symptoms of depression post-treatment. All users will have access to the core tool which includes daily mood tracking and a psychoeducational module about cancer and depression. Depending on assigned condition, participants will also receive access to up to 4 intervention modules which have been adapted from existing evidence-based treatments for digital delivery to AYAs through a rigorous user-centered design process. Within each module there are 6 micro-lessons that include an educational video, a real story from an AYA that demonstrates the topic, multiple choice questions that ask the participant to apply the educational information to the AYA story, open-ended questions that ask the participant to apply the educational information to their own experience, and a practice activity in which they are asked to try out a relevant skill.