A web toolkit to ease anxiety and emotional distress for older rural cancer survivors
Official title: 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
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11196229 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers a web-based toolkit to help older cancer survivors in rural areas reduce cancer-related anxiety and learn the digital skills to use telehealth for mental health support.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $783,852 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NR021666-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11196229 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults who live in rural areas, are cancer survivors, are experiencing cancer-related distress or anxiety, and can access or are willing to learn to use a web-based tool.
✕Less likely to help
People without reliable internet or device access, those with severe cognitive impairment, or those needing immediate or intensive psychiatric care may not benefit from this web-based intervention.
What this research studies
You would help design and try a web toolkit called CONNECT that aims to teach digital skills and provide mental health support for rural older cancer survivors. The team co-designs the toolkit with patients to make it easy to use for people with limited digital experience. In a two-arm randomized trial, some participants will get immediate access to the toolkit while others receive usual care so researchers can compare outcomes. The study measures cancer-related distress, anxiety, and usability to see whether the toolkit helps people get and use telehealth support.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the toolkit could lower anxiety and improve access to mental health support by making telehealth easier for rural older cancer survivors to use.
How similar studies have gone: Telehealth and digital mental health programs have shown promise for reducing distress, but combining digital literacy training with a co-designed toolkit for rural older cancer survivors is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lewis, Marquita W. — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Lewis, Marquita W.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.