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Support for Bereaved Cancer Caregivers

ConditionsBereavementCancerCaregiverGrief
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorMichigan State University

About this trial

Friend and family caregivers of recently deceased cancer patients experience acute bereavement following the death. Post death bereavement is an intense period of mourning that includes an unfolding of the grief process and is characterized by strong emotions and demands on cognitive resources to those who have put aside their own needs to support the dying patient with cancer. This research will test the feasibility and acceptability of a nature-based healing meditation (NBHM) intervention to support cancer caregivers' during the bereavement process.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

18 years old or older; Able and willing to provide reflexology

Able to speak and understand English

Have access to a telephone

Able to hear normal conversation

Disqualifiers

None

Trial design

Design model

Single group

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Nature-based healing meditation (NBHM) intervention

    Other intervention

    6 nature-based healing meditation (NBHM) auditory modules available via the study website to facilitate bereavement (grief) recovery and assessed on parameters of directed attention, grief, and QOL (including parameters of depression/anxiety)

Treatment groups

70 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment group
Group A: Nature-based healing meditation (NBHM) interventionExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Feasibility of Intervention Measure

The 4-item Feasibility of Intervention Measure was developed for evaluating the success of feasibility, demonstrate encouraging psychometric properties. The items that are scored on a scale of 0 to 4 where 0 indicates "completely disagree," and 4 indicates "completely agree". Thus, the range for each scale extends from 0 - 16 with higher scores indicating higher feasibility and acceptability.

Time frame
From baseline to the end of intervention at 12 weeks
2

Acceptability of Intervention Measure

The 4-item Acceptability of Intervention Measure was developed for evaluating the success of acceptability, demonstrate encouraging psychometric properties. The items that are scored on a scale of 0 to 4 where 0 indicates "completely disagree," and 4 indicates "completely agree". Thus, the range for each scale extends from 0 - 16 with higher scores indicating higher feasibility and acceptability.

Time frame
From baseline to the end of intervention at 12 weeks
3

Attention Function Index

Directed attention will be assessed with the Attention Function Index, a 16-item self-rating scale that measures perceived effectiveness in daily tasks that require cognitive function. Items are scored on an 11-point Likert scale ranging from 0, indicating "not at all," to 10, indicating "extremely well or a great deal." Higher scores indicate better cognitive functioning.

Time frame
From baseline to the end of intervention at 12 weeks
4

Prolonged Grief 13-Revised

Grief (Bereavement) will be measured with the Prolonged Grief 13-Revised prolonged grief scale, Ongoing testing demonstrates that the measure is consistently reliable and a valid instrument for classifying less adaptive grief responses. Thirteen items to assess symptoms of prolonged grief disorder. Ten items are scored on a Likert-style scale from 1, "not at all," to 5 "overwhelmingly" to indicate how often that item describes how they are feeling. Three of the items assess whether the respondent had lost a significant other, how long ago the death occurred, and impairment associated with symptoms. Scores of 30 or greater on the symptom items indicate prolonged grief disorder (PGD), and were associated with poorer emotional and mental health as well as work and social adjustment difficulties.

Time frame
From baseline to the end of intervention at 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Michigan State University

Lead sponsor

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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