Feasibility of Incorporating a Standardized Substance Use Measure With Linked-Brief Intervention Into Routine Psychosocial Care of Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors

NCT07516301 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: ASSIST
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The ASSIST Study is designed to explore whether a brief, evidence based substance use screening and counseling approach can be easily integrated into routine survivorship care at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. During a regularly scheduled psychosocial visit, participants complete the World Health Organization's Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). This short questionnaire helps identify patterns of use related to tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, prescription medications, and other substances. Survivors whose results show possible risk receive a brief, supportive counseling session during the same appointment. This session uses motivational interviewing techniques to help individuals reflect on their use and consider steps to reduce potential harm. Primary Objective: \- Assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a standardized assessment of substance use and brief substance use reduction intervention in survivorship clinical settings. Secondary Objective: \- Evaluate the reliability of delivering a brief substance use intervention to reduce substance use behaviors among Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer (ASCC) followed in the (ACT) Clinic.

Conditions

Survivors of Childhood Cancer; Substance Use

Keywords

Adult childhood cancer survivors (ACCS); Cancer Survivorship

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Enrollment Feasibility

  Proportion of participants approached that enroll in the study

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Screener Feasibility

  Proportion of participants enrolled that completed the substance use screener with their social worker

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Brief Intervention Feasibility

  Proportion of participants that scored moderate-to-high risk on the substance use screener that received a brief intervention to reduce substance use

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Care coordination Feasibility

  Proportion of participants that received a referral for additional services received a coordination of care call from their social worker within 48 business hours of their social work visit

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Screener Acceptability- Acceptability of Intervention Measure

  A measure of intervention acceptability. Scores are summed and range from 4-20, with scores ≥12 indicative of intervention acceptability.

  Time 1 (1-week post baseline assessment)

• Intervention Acceptability - Acceptability of Intervention Measure

  A measure of intervention acceptability. Scores are summed and range from 4-20, with scores ≥12 indicative of intervention acceptability.

  Time 2 (3 months post baseline assessment)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Intervention Fidelity

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Other Outcomes (4)

• Care Coordination Preliminary Efficacy

  Time 2 (3 months post baseline visit)

• Substance Use Reduction Attempt

  Time 2 (3 months post baseline visit)

• Substance Use Reduction Amount

  Time 2 (3 months post baseline visit)

Study Arms (2)

ASSIST Screening with Feedback and Brief Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

This arm is designed to integrate meaningful, patient centered conversations about substance use directly into routine survivorship care, making it easier for survivors to receive tailored support in real time

Behavioral: WHO ASSIST v3.1 Screening with Feedback; Behavioral: ASSIST Linked Brief Intervention (10 Step Motivational interviewing (MI)/FRAMES)

ASSIST Screening Without Feedback

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

This comparison group will allow researchers to understand how the screening plus intervention approach differs from standard survivorship care, helping determine whether the added feedback and brief counseling are practical, acceptable, and potentially beneficial for adult survivors of childhood cancer.

Behavioral: WHO ASSIST v3.1 Screening (No Feedback)

Interventions

WHO ASSIST v3.1 Screening with Feedback BEHAVIORAL

An 8 item clinician administered instrument assessing lifetime and recent (past 3 months) use across substance classes (tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine type stimulants, sedatives/sleeping pills, hallucinogens, inhalants, opioids, and other drugs).Risk scores wiil be produced to guide intervention level. The assessment will be administered orally during a routine psychosocial visit by an LCSW. In the experimental arm, risk feedback will be shared using a scorecard

ASSIST Screening with Feedback and Brief Intervention

WHO ASSIST v3.1 Screening (No Feedback) BEHAVIORAL

An 8 item clinician administered instrument assessing lifetime and recent (past 3 months) use across substance classes (tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine type stimulants, sedatives/sleeping pills, hallucinogens, inhalants, opioids, and other drugs).Risk scores wiil be produced to guide intervention level. The assessment will be administered orally during a routine psychosocial visit by an LCSW. In the control arm, no scorecard/feedback will be provided.

ASSIST Screening Without Feedback

ASSIST Linked Brief Intervention (10 Step Motivational interviewing (MI)/FRAMES) BEHAVIORAL

For participants screening moderate/high risk in the experimental arm, a same session, brief intervention consistent with motivational interviewing and FRAMES is delivered by an LCSW. Ten steps include: purpose of discussion, feedback on scores, information/advice, emphasize responsibility, express concern/support, explore "good things," explore "less good things," summarize, explore readiness/next steps with goal setting if ready, and provide self help materials. Sessions will be audio recorded for fidelity review.

ASSIST Screening with Feedback and Brief Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Followed in the ACT Clinic at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• Greater than or equal to 18 years of age at time of evaluation
• Able to speak and read English

You may not qualify if:

• Significant mental or cognitive impairment that would impact ability to complete surveys or participate in the brief intervention

Sponsors & Collaborators

• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Memphis, Tennessee, 38105, United States

Location

Related Links

• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• Clinical Trials Open at St. Jude

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Substance-Related Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Rachel Webster, PhD

  St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Rachel Webster, PhD

CONTACT

888-226-4343; referralinfo@stjude.org

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 25, 2026
• First Posted: April 7, 2026
• Study Start: May 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2028
• Last Updated: April 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

US (1)