Internet-based Support in Cancer Rehabilitation

NCT00961610 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: PP-07024
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 794
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This 2-arm randomized trial assessed the incremental effect of providing a lecture on Internet use followed by participation in an Internet-based peer support group following a week-long rehabilitation program, over and above any possible general effect of participation in the rehabilitation program. Primary outcome measures are adjustment to cancer and mood disturbance.

Conditions

Cancer

Keywords

internet support; cancer; rehabilitation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Adjustment to cancer measured by the Mini-MAC scale Mood disturbance measured by POMS-SF scale

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Self-rated global health

Study Arms (2)

Internet support group Intervention

Behavioral: Internet peer-support group

Control group

Behavioral: Internet peer-support group

Interventions

Internet peer-support group BEHAVIORAL

The Internet peer-support groups provided a self-guided space for communication, including an Internet discussion forum, a live chat room and a personal message system. No therapeutic content or information services were offered within the groups. All Internet groups were run in a browser-based software platform with access through the website of the Danish Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.dk). All discussions were protected by a password and communication was encrypted. The Internet groups in this study were all closed peer-support groups, accessible only by an invitation received by e-mail after registration for the study. The groups were open to access 24 h a day for 13 months from their individual starting date.

Control group; Internet support group Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

A total of 66 scheduled rehabilitation course weeks were screened for eligibility between 19 April 2004 and 31 December 2005 from the Rehabilitation Centre Dallund in Denmark. All 58 eligible courses including 921 individuals were enrolled and randomized as 27 case weeks (n = 416 persons) and 31 control weeks (n = 505 persons). Baseline assessments were obtained from 799 individuals. Data from 10 individuals (5 from each treatment group) were subsequently excluded, as they did not attend a rehabilitation course week as planned, leaving final study population of 794 individuals analyzed by 'intention-to-treat' (case: n = 361/794; control: n = 433/794). Participants were followed up for 12 months in accordance with their dates of attendance of the rehabilitation course from 19 April 2004 till 31 December 2006.

You may qualify if:

• Cancer survivors who were randomized for or self-selected to a rehabilitation course at the Dallund Rehabilitation Centre were included in the study.

You may not qualify if:

• Rehabilitation course weeks in which cancer survivors over 50 years of age were targeted specifically were excluded.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Danish Cancer Society: lead
• TrygFonden, Denmark: collaborator
• IMK Almene Fond: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Department of Psychsocial Cancer Research

Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neoplasms

Study Officials

• Christoffer Johansen, MD, PhD, DrMedSci

  Department of Psychosocial Cancer Research

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 17, 2009
• First Posted: August 19, 2009
• Study Start: April 1, 2004
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2006
• Study Completion: December 1, 2006
• Last Updated: August 19, 2009

Record last verified: 2009-08

Locations

DK (1)