Improving communication about sexual health for young cancer patients
Improving Health-Related Quality of Life Communication Between AYA Oncology Patients and Clinicians: A Patient-Centered Intervention
This study is testing a new online tool to help young cancer patients talk more openly with their doctors about sexual and reproductive health.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 15 Years to 25 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Connecticut Children's Medical Center Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | Chemotherapy, immunotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Hartford, Connecticut) |
| Trial ID | NCT06982066 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to enhance communication between adolescent and young adult oncology patients and their healthcare providers regarding sexual and reproductive health. It will develop and test a web-based tool called ReSPECT, designed to facilitate these discussions in outpatient oncology settings. The intervention will be refined based on feedback from both patients and clinicians before being tested in a cohort study. Participants will complete surveys and interviews to assess the effectiveness of the intervention.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adolescents and young adults aged 15-25 who are currently undergoing cancer treatment.
Not a fit: Patients who are not currently receiving cancer-directed therapy or are outside the age range of 15-25 may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly improve the quality of sexual and reproductive health communication for young cancer patients, leading to better patient outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: While there is limited data on similar interventions specifically for AYA oncology patients, the approach of enhancing patient-provider communication has shown promise in other healthcare settings.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Patients In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Be aged 15-25 years old at time of enrollment. 2. Have a cancer diagnosis and currently be on cancer-directed therapy with at least one of the following: 1. Chemotherapy: any anticancer drug to treat the cancer diagnosis, including immunotherapy. 2. Radiotherapy: any radiotherapy to treat the cancer diagnosis. 3. Surgery: any surgery to remove cancer including partial of total resections. Biopsies are not considered surgery. 3. Be greater than or equal to 2 months from diagnosis/initiation of therapy, whichever occurred later. 4. Be able to speak and read English 5. Have permission to participate from a member of the patient's primary oncology team. 6. Provision to sign and date the consent/assent form. 7. Active study participation of primary oncology clinician 8. Patient must have primary oncology care at Connecticut Children's Center for Cancer \& Blood Disorders of Children's Hospital Los Angeles Cancer \& Blood Disease Institute Exclusion Criteria An individual who meets and of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study: 1. Not currently on cancer-directed therapy. 2. Unable to speak and read English. 3. Insufficient cognitive functioning to complete study measures (as determined by a member of the patient's primary oncology team) Pediatric Oncology Clinicians 1\. Be a pediatric oncology physician, clinical fellow, or advanced practice provider (including nurse practitioners and physician assistants) that provides clinical care for AYA patients with cancer
Where this trial is running
Hartford, Connecticut
- Connecticut Children's Medical Center — Hartford, Connecticut, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Natasha Frederick, MD, MPH — nfrederick@connecticutchildrens.org
- Study coordinator: Natasha Frederick, MD, MPH
- Email: nfrederick@connecticutchildrens.org
- Phone: 860-545-9618
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.