Helping advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients and their caregivers manage fatigue and stress
Official title: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Patient Fatigue Interference and Caregiver Burden in Advanced Gastrointestinal Cancer
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11077263 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a special therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help people with advanced gastrointestinal cancer feel less tired and improve their overall well-being, while also supporting their family caregivers who may be feeling overwhelmed. The program includes helpful phone calls with mindfulness exercises and ways to identify what matters most to them, and it will involve 244 patient-caregiver pairs to see how well it works compared to regular care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $554,070 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA289486-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11077263 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are experiencing moderate to severe fatigue due to advanced gastrointestinal cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage cancer or those not experiencing significant fatigue may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients cope with fatigue and improve their quality of life, while also supporting their family caregivers who experience increased burden. The study involves a telephone-based intervention that combines mindfulness exercises and value identification to enhance patient functioning and reduce caregiver stress. By focusing on both patients and caregivers, the research aims to create a supportive environment that addresses the emotional and practical challenges faced by both groups. The trial will involve 244 patient-caregiver pairs, who will be randomly assigned to receive the ACT intervention or standard care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the quality of life for both patients and their caregivers by reducing fatigue and caregiver burden.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilot studies have shown promise for ACT in reducing fatigue and caregiver burden, indicating a potential for success in this larger trial.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mosher, Catherine E — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Mosher, Catherine E
Related research
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Help Fatigue and Caregiver Burden in Advanced GI Cancer
A patient-facing trial will test a telephone-based therapy to help people with advanced gastrointestinal cancer manage fatigue and reduce the stress on their family caregivers.
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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.