Grant Number:	5R01CA159013-04 Interpret this number
Primary Investigator:	Sahler, Olle Jane
Organization:	University Of Rochester
Project Title:	Online Problem-Solving Skills Training for Mothers of Childhood Cancer Patients
Fiscal Year:	2015

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Research and experience document that caregivers of children with cancer encounter extraordinary stresses during the child's illness. These stresses are particularly severe during diagnosis and early therapy and can interfere significantly with a caregiver's ability to make reasoned and timely decisions on their child's behalf. With increasing survivor rates, it has become evident that decisions made in the early stages of cancer management can have profound long-term effects, adding to the distress caregivers feel trying to make the "right" decisions. Too help mothers of newly diagnosed children cope more effectively with these challenges, we conducted randomized controlled trials (R25CA65520, R01CA098954) to develop, field test, and evaluate the efficacy of the Bright IDEAS paradigm of problem-solving skills training (PSST), a cognitive-behavioral therapy shown to decrease anxiety and depression - two symptoms of post-traumatic stress commonly experienced among this group of mothers. Our findings clearly show that PSST significantly increases problem-solving skills (primary effect) and decreases negative affectivity (secondary effect) in mothers from a variety of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Particularly powerful and long-lasting effects were noted in Spanish-speaking mothers, an especially underserved population. In March 2010, the NCI designated Bright IDEAS as a Research-based Therapy/Intervention Program (RTIP) and entered it into the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP). As an 8-session, in-person intervention, Bright IDEAS is labor intensive and, to date has only been available at a few institutions with trained personnel. However, as a part of the RTIPs evaluation process, the Dissemination Capability of Bright IDEAS was rated 5/5. This proposal is designed to meet the challenge inherent in this perfect score. We will also immediately broaden the scope of users by including fathers as eligible participants in this study of a new delivery paradigm we believe they will find appealing. Aim 1 is implementation of an engaging, easy-to-use on-line version of Bright IDEAS that would be available 24/7 to any person anywhere who has access to the Internet. Aim 2 is the use of "Diffusion of Innovations" theory to craft a framework for disseminating not only Bright IDEAS but also other similar interventions with the greatest effectiveness and efficiency. In past studies, we have shown that the human element (time and attention) inherent in in-person interventions is effective in bringing immediate relief of distress but not sufficient to maintain its benefits over time. In contrast, mothers receiving PSST increase their skills and continue to improve their sense of well being 3 months after the intervention. What we have not investigated is whether a computer-based intervention is as effective as (not inferior to) an in-person intervention. The results will have significant implications for future dissemination strategies, especially the use of Internet II and other emerging technologies.





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