Group program to promote post-traumatic growth for adults with breast, colorectal, or head and neck cancer in Greece
A Manualized Post-Traumatic Growth Intervention for People With Cancer in Greece - IC-Growth. The Overarching Aim of IC-Growth is to Promote Psychosocial Care and Support for People With Cancer Using Acceptance and Committment Therapy.
This project will try a manualized, group-based ACT program to help Greek adults who finished chemotherapy for breast, colorectal, or head and neck cancer increase post-traumatic growth and quality of life.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 180 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Centre for Research and Technology Hellas Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Thessaloniki) |
| Trial ID | NCT07108517 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
IC-Growth is a 24-month, multidisciplinary program that develops and tests a manualized intervention to promote post-traumatic growth (PTG) in adults with breast, colorectal, and head and neck cancers. The work includes a systematic review, a cross-sectional study of 210–240 patients measuring PTG, quality of life, biological markers and psychological variables, and a randomized controlled trial across two Greek hospitals. The RCT will randomize roughly 70–80 participants per cancer type to a six-to-eight week, 90-minute weekly group ACT-based PTG intervention versus standard care. Results will be used to create best-practice recommendations and inform health policy for psychosocial survivorship care.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (≥18) in Greece with a diagnosis of breast, colorectal, or head and neck cancer who have completed planned chemotherapy, are within five years of initial diagnosis, can read and speak Greek, can give informed consent, and are not currently in active psychiatric treatment are eligible.
Not a fit: People in active psychological or psychiatric treatment, with unmanaged serious mental illness, severe cognitive impairment, recent relapse or another cancer within five years, non-Greek speakers, or with less than one year life expectancy are excluded and unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could increase resilience and improve quality of life after cancer by helping survivors achieve psychological growth beyond their pre-diagnosis functioning.
How similar studies have performed: Small trials and ACT-based psychosocial programs in cancer and other trauma settings have shown feasibility and some benefits for coping and quality of life, but large RCT evidence specifically targeting PTG in cancer is still limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adults (≥ 18 years) 2. Having a diagnosis of a. Breast Cancer, b. Colorectal Cancer, or c. Head and Neck Cancer. 3. Having concluded the planned chemotherapy courses and related hospital admissions 4. Having no more than 5 years since the initial diagnosis. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Being in active psychological or psychiatric treatment 2. Having an unmanaged mental health difficulty 3. Having a severe cognitive impairment 4. Being unable to give informed consent 5. Being unable to speak or read Greek 6. Having one or more relapses 7. Diagnosed with another type of cancer within 5 years prior to recruitment. 8. Having less than one-year life expectancy
Where this trial is running
Thessaloniki
- AHEPA University Hospital — Thessaloniki, Greece (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.