Using a Heuristic Tool to Improve Symptom Self-Management in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer: Protocol for a...

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer experience multiple distressing symptoms during treatment, yet few developmentally relevant resources have been developed to help them self-manage their symptoms. Empowering patients to have a more active role in self-management during cancer treatment may lessen their symptom severity and distress.

The aim of this study is to test an intervention designed to improve symptom self-management, the Computerized Symptom Capture Tool (C-SCAT), by helping AYAs understand their unique symptom experience and discuss it with their health care providers.

We are conducting a multisite, 2-group randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of the C-SCAT in improving symptom self-management versus usual care in 126 AYAs who are within the first 3 months of a cancer diagnosis and who are receiving chemotherapy. Participants are randomly assigned to either the C-SCAT intervention group or the usual care group. The primary aim is to determine the effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on the primary outcomes of self-efficacy for symptom management and symptom self-management behaviors. The secondary aim is to examine the effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on distal outcomes, including symptoms and quality of life. Participants complete measures of self-efficacy for symptom management, symptom self-management behaviors, symptom severity and distress, quality of life social function, and quality of life satisfaction of social function at baseline (time 0), immediately postintervention (time 1), and at follow-up 1 month later (time 2).

Recruitment started on January 4, 2024, at the first site, and all sites were open by May 1, 2024. Thus far, accrual has been set at 73% of the quarterly benchmark goal. Linear mixed effects models will be used to test for group differences across time for the primary and secondary aims.

This randomized controlled trial is evaluating an innovative, point-of-care intervention designed to be used at a clinic visit with the provider to improve symptom self-management for AYAs with cancer.