Prepare to Care, A Supported Self-Management Intervention for Head and Neck Cancer CaregiversHead and Neck Cancer

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess feasibility (accrual, participation, and retention) and acceptability of a
supported self-management intervention for psycho-education and stress management skills
building designed for informal caregivers (n=20) of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients
undergoing radiotherapy (RT).

II. To obtain preliminary data on caregiver intermediate (self-efficacy for [a] coping with
cancer and [b] abbreviated progressive muscle relaxation) and outcome variables (burden,
psychological distress, quality of life) before and after the intervention.

III. To refine intervention procedures and materials for future studies by examining
qualitative data from caregivers and interventionist notes.

IV. To refine intervention procedures and materials for future studies by examining
quantitative data regarding module utilization.

OUTLINE:

Caregivers watch introduction video on a digital video disc (DVD) over 10 minutes at
baseline. Caregivers receive Prepare to Care kit including 8 workbook modules and complete at
least 1 module over 30-45 minutes each week. Caregivers also attend interventionist session
over 10-30 minutes weekly.

Inclusion Criteria:

CAREGIVERS:

- Providing the majority of the informal (unpaid) care during RT for a patient meeting
inclusion criteria

- Planning to live with the patient for the duration of RT

CARE-RECIPIENTS:

- Has a new or recurrent American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage I-IV squamous
cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract (including lip/oral cavity,
nasopharynx, salivary gland, oropharynx, hypopharynx, paranasal sinus, and larynx
cancers)

- Has planned external beam radiotherapy (+/- chemotherapy) for 6-7 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

- CAREGIVERS: Has a current cancer diagnosis

- CAREGIVERS: Cannot read/communicate in English

- CARE-RECIPIENTS: Has an additional cancer diagnosis

- CARE-RECIPIENTS: Cannot read/communicate in English