Grant Number:	1R03CA273485-01 Interpret this number
Primary Investigator:	Thompson, Tess
Organization:	Washington University
Project Title:	Developing a Dyadic Survivorship Intervention for Black Women with Breast Cancer and Their Informal Caregivers
Fiscal Year:	2022

1 Breast cancer patients and their informal caregivers often report unmet psychosocial, relational, and physical 2 health needs that persist into long-term survivorship. Although dyadic interventions have shown promise in 3 improving outcomes for patients and caregivers, few existing interventions are designed for Black patients and 4 the female family members and friends who provide the majority of unpaid care and support. This study will 5 develop a novel dyadic intervention delivered via video teleconferencing (VTC) to Black breast cancer patients 6 and their female informal caregivers to improve quality of life and relationship outcomes during the transition to 7 long-term survivorship. This proposal is directly responsive to NCI’s priorities about caregiving and cancer 8 survivorship and will lay the foundation for a randomized controlled trial of a first-of-its-kind dyadic intervention. 9 First, we will build on our previous and current work with Black breast cancer patients and their informal 10 caregivers by asking dyads to evaluate potential intervention content. Next, we will design for dissemination by 11 interviewing stakeholders to identify facilitators and barriers to implementing dyadic survivorship interventions 12 in clinical care. Finally, we will develop a brief intervention and evaluate its acceptability and feasibility. The 13 aims of this proposal are as follows: Aim 1: Evaluate the potential domains and characteristics of a brief 14 VTC intervention to improve quality of life for Black breast cancer patients and female informal 15 caregivers during the transition to long-term survivorship. We will solicit qualitative and quantitative 16 feedback from both members of dyads individually and together (N = 20 dyads) about themes, domains, and 17 characteristics of a culturally appropriate patient- and caregiver-centered VTC survivorship intervention. Aim 2. 18 Identify facilitators and barriers to implementing dyadic survivorship interventions in clinical care. We 19 will design for dissemination by conducting interviews (N = 15) with stakeholders the cancer center based on 20 the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. A directed thematic analysis will allow us to 21 understand barriers and facilitators to delivering dyadic interventions in clinical care. Aim 3. Evaluate a brief 22 VTC intervention in a pilot feasibility study (N = 20 dyads). Based on the formative research in Aims 1 and 23 2, we will develop a 4-session intervention delivered remotely by psychology service staff at the cancer center 24 around the time patients complete active treatment and transition to long-term survivorship. We will collect 25 quantitative and qualitative feasibility data from patients and their female caregivers about satisfaction and 26 intervention acceptability. We will also pilot test the assessment battery, including validated measures of 27 relationship outcomes, health care utilization, and quality of life for both dyad members. Upon completion of 28 this project, our team will be well-positioned to test the intervention in a larger trial. The ultimate goal of this 29 research program is to reduce health disparities by improving outcomes for Black breast cancer patients and 30 their female caregivers.





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