Web-Based Toolkit to Improve Cancer-Related Emotional Distress and Anxiety in Rural Older Cancer Survivors
Designing for Sustainability: Co-Designing and Testing the Efficacy of a Web-Based Toolkit to Improve Cancer-Related Emotional Distress and Anxiety for Rural Older Cancer Survivors
Northwestern University
578 participants
Aug 26, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
This clinical trial tests how well a web based toolkit works to improve cancer related emotional distress and anxiety in rural older cancer survivors. Rural older adults with cancer-related distress are particularly vulnerable to poorer mental health and cancer-related outcomes including increased difficulties identifying symptoms of anxiety, a reduced likelihood of knowing when to access mental health services, and a higher likelihood of having poorly managed CRD, even after receiving a psychosocial referral. The web based tool kit called CONNECT addresses digital literacy and supports for cancer-related distress management through interactive activities for setting up telehealth visits, accessing educational materials about cancer-related distress, and providing individualized mental health resource recommendations. Using CONNECT may improve cancer related emotional distress and anxiety in rural older cancer survivors.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria26
- 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 Criteria3
- 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
Interventions
Receive educational materials on distress management and guides to telehealth
Receive written educational brochure about distress management
Receive access to CONNECT platform
Complete interview
Complete small group workshop
Receive personalized recommendations for resources
Ancillary study
Complete calls with research assistant
Receive text message reminders
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.
NCT07290543