Culturally Based Brief Expressive Writing Intervention for the Improvement of Health in Chinese Immigrant Stage 0-III Breast Cancer Survivors, Writing to Heal Study
Writing to Heal: A Culturally Based Brief Expressive Writing Intervention for Chinese Immigrant Breast Cancer Survivors
2 other identifiers
interventional
256
1 country
1
Brief Summary
This clinical trial studies the effect of a culturally based brief expressive writing intervention in improving the health of Chinese immigrant stage 0-III breast cancer survivors. Culturally based brief expressive writing interventions may help researchers learn more about the experiences of Chinese immigrant breast cancer survivors and how writing about their experiences may affect their health.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable
Started Jul 2021
Longer than P75 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
February 10, 2021
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
February 15, 2021
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
July 23, 2021
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
April 1, 2026
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
April 1, 2026
CompletedJanuary 20, 2026
January 1, 2026
4.7 years
February 10, 2021
January 15, 2026
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Quality of life (QOL)
Quality of life will be measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for patients with breast cancer (FACT-B). The scale contains 27 items that assess perceived QoL in four domains: physical well-being, social well-being, emotional well-being and functional well-being. Items are rated on a 5-point scale from 0 - not at all, to 4 - very much. Total scores range between 0 and 108, with higher scores indicating better quality of life
Up to 12 months
Secondary Outcomes (4)
Perceived stress
Up to 12 months
Stress biomarker - alpha amylase
Up to 6 weeks
Stress biomarker-cortisol
Up to 6 weeks
Number of medical appointments for cancer-related morbidities
Up to 12 months
Study Arms (3)
Arm I (control writing)
ACTIVE COMPARATORPatients write about facts regarding their cancer diagnosis and treatment for 3 weekly 30-minute sessions.
Arm II (self-regulation writing)
EXPERIMENTALPatients write about stress and coping, emotional disclosure, and benefit finding for 3 weekly 30-minute sessions.
Arm III (self-cultivation writing)
EXPERIMENTALPatients write about positive thoughts and feelings regarding their breast cancer experience for 3 weekly 30-minute sessions.
Interventions
Write about facts regarding their cancer diagnosis and treatment
Ancillary studies
Ancillary studies
Write about stress and coping, emotional disclosure, and benefit finding
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Being diagnosed with stage 0-III breast cancer.
- Completed primary treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immune therapy, and/or targeted therapy within the preceding 5 years.
- Foreign-born Chinese women (aged 18 and older) who lived in the U.S. for at least six months in the past.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- M.D. Anderson Cancer Centerlead
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)collaborator
Study Sites (1)
M D Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Related Publications (1)
Lu Q, Lun D, Dawkins-Moultin L, Li Y, Chen M, Giordano SH, Pennebaker JW, Young L, Wang C. Study protocol for writing to heal: A culturally based brief expressive writing intervention for Chinese immigrant breast cancer survivors. PLoS One. 2024 Sep 26;19(9):e0309138. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309138. eCollection 2024.
PMID: 39325778DERIVED
Related Links
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Qian Lu
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- SUPPORTIVE CARE
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
February 10, 2021
First Posted
February 15, 2021
Study Start
July 23, 2021
Primary Completion
April 1, 2026
Study Completion
April 1, 2026
Last Updated
January 20, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-01