Abstract PO-095: Improving informal caregivers and cancer survivors' psychological distress, symptom management and health care use follow-up interviews

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) experience disparately higher burden of negative psychological outcomes (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress) during the first six months of cancer compared to older patients and caregivers (i.e., dyads). This is due to their unfamiliarity with severe illness, multiple caregiving responsibilities, and developmental transitions of young adulthood. We aimed to receive feedback about adaptation of a telephone-based interpersonal psychotherapy intervention for AYA cancer dyads. Methods: We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews to elicit feedback about the intervention. Participants ages 18-39 years were eligible if they completed the 12-week intervention study (N=7). Participants were asked to share 1) their overall experience with the intervention content and delivery methods, 2) suggestions on how the intervention content and delivery could be improved, and 3) topics they found especially helpful or 4) they felt should have been included. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and quality checked. We categorized qualitative feedback through interpretive description. Results: We interviewed 7 participants: 5 women and 2 men; 3 of whom were cancer survivors and 4 were caregivers. The interviews lasted between 5-20 minutes (average=10.5 minutes). Most participants enjoyed the content and found the information provided extremely helpful. Some participants continue to use the information provided after their participation. They explained that although some content was not relevant to them during their participation, it has since become relevant and has helped them navigate later stages of their cancer care. Participants felt that the study team was courteous and would have liked to speak to them more often, if given the opportunity. Suggestions for improving the intervention content delivery were providing a digital version of the handbook that they could access on a kindle or other eBook device, and a website or app with more information related to the intervention. Another suggestion was to provide the option to have video calls, instead of only phone calls, with the counselors, as face-to-face interactions would have helped them feel more connected during their sessions. Stand out topics included a sleep topic which included tips on how to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, and family topics which included family bonding tips. A topic that should have been included was how to improve self-confidence with intimate relationships. Conclusions: During their cancer experience, AYA cancer dyads are at a unique stage of life and are undergoing developmental transitions of young adulthood (e.g., completing higher education, establishing a career, developing intimate relationships) which results in disparities in their cancer survival and care. These disparities may be addressed through the adaptation of targeted interventions, specifically those that incorporate technology into the delivery of psychotherapy for addressing psychological sequela of cancer. Citation Format: Jennifer Traslavina Jimenez, Ashley Green, Keely Smith, Echo L Warner, Terry Badger, Alla Sikorskii, Chris Segrin. Improving informal caregivers and cancer survivors' psychological distress, symptom management and health care use follow-up interviews [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2021 Oct 6-8. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-095.