Project Description
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mobilized Psychoeducation and Skills Based Intervention (PEP-PAL) for Caregivers of Patients with Advanced Illness
We previously demonstrated the efficacy of a brief,
in-person, one-on-one stress management intervention to reduce distress in
caregivers of patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants
(allo-HCST) in a randomized controlled trial. In addition, preliminary results
from a qualitative development study suggest favorable results towards
translating and enhancing the in-person stress management intervention and
further developing a mobilized intervention to help caregivers manage distress
(Pep-Pal). The aim of the current study is to conduct a pilot randomized
controlled trial of the mobilized program, Pep-Pal, with sixty caregivers (Total N = 60; 30 caregivers of
patients receiving bone marrow transplant, 60 caregivers of patients enrolled
in Phase I clinical oncology trials). Pep-Pal program consists of 9 sessions;
Introduction to Stress, Mindfulness and Gratitude, How Thoughts Can Lead to
Stress, Coping with Stress, Strategies for Maintaining Energy and Stamina,
Coping with Uncertainty, Managing Changing Relationships and Communication,
Getting Support, and Intimacy. Pep-pal will be delivered via a mobilized
platform. Acceptability will be assessed through qualitative analyses of themes
from exit interviews (N=6). Usability will be assessed through self-report
assessment of usage of Pep-pal indicating length, frequency of sessions
watched, and rankings of usefulness for each session. Feasibility will be
assessed through frequency data regarding recruitment, enrollment, reasons for
refusal, dropout, and backend data pulled from the website. Finally,
preliminary estimates of efficacy will be assessed including the primary
outcome, anxiety, and secondary outcomes including depression, stress, sexual
functioning, and quality of life. Future directions for development and
dissemination will be discussed.
Bio
Nicole Amoyal Pensak, PhD is an Assistant Professor at the University
of Colorado School of Medicine in the Division of General
Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine. She conducts technological
intervention development and dissemination research for patients with advanced
illness and their caregivers. She completed an NIH/NIA-funded T32 research fellowship
in Palliative Care and Aging in June 2016. Prior to that, she
completed a post-doctoral fellowship in psychiatric oncology at
Massachusetts General Hospital/ Harvard Medical School
and a pre-doctoral internship in Behavioral Medicine at Yale School
of Medicine. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of
Rhode Island. As a 2016 NPCRC Career Development Award grantee, she will
conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial of a mobilized
intervention to help caregivers manage distress and to enhance intimacy.
Her career goals are to develop and disseminate evidence-based interventions to
improve quality of life and intimacy for patients with advanced disease and
their caregivers.
Email: nicole.amoyal@ucdenver.edu