Overview
The proposed research will use a double-blind randomized controlled design to pilot test a model for how stories shared by a panel of HCT survivors impact the psychosocial well-being of the digital stories (DS) intervention condition of 55 patients who recently underwent HCT and their respective caregivers compared with 55 people in an information control (IC) condition and their caregivers (total 220 participants; N=110 per condition). Participants, recruited from the Mayo Clinic Arizona Cancer Center, will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: the DS intervention or the IC video condition. Participants will questionnaires at baseline (T1), after the 4-week intervention (T2), and 3 months (100 days) later (T3).
Eligibility
Subject population (children, adults, groups): All patients and caregivers undergoing HCT at Mayo Clinic in Arizona for hematological disorders.
Inclusion (patients):
- recently underwent HCT (within a month after hospital discharge)
- are able to speak, read, and write in English
- are 18 years or older
- have access to a working phone and e-mail account.
Inclusion (caregivers):
- family caregivers who are identified as a primary caregiver by a patient, and have primary responsibility for the care of patients throughout the HCT process, including basic medical procedures, taking the patient to and from the hospital frequently as well as other household and other role responsibilities
- are able to speak, read, and write in English
- are 18 years or older
- have access to a working phone and e-mail account.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Participants who are not identified as primary caregivers
- Participants with a visual or hearing impairment