The UCLA School of Nursing seeks volunteers to participate in a study that aims to improve the lives of pancreatic cancer patients and caregivers through innovative technology – not additional medicine. This study is the first of its kind to focus on the issues that surround pancreatic cancer, including depression and fatigue.
This project, funded through a 2017 Seed Grant, will look for a link between nurse contact and patient well-being, with online nursing touch-points to help improve depression. The study consists of 5, 10-15 minute long questionnaires over the course of 12 weeks. If you are a pancreatic cancer patient or caregiver, you may be eligible to participate in this study!
Am I Eligible?
You are eligible if you have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer or you are a caregiver for someone with pancreatic cancer, and you have no history of dementia, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.
What Do I Have to Do During the Study?
- You will be asked to complete an initial questionnaire that will ask you about your mood, symptoms, medication management, sleep, social support, quality of life, and satisfaction with care. This will take about 10-15 minutes to complete.
- You will be asked to complete additional questionnaires during the 2, 4, 6, and 12 weeks after enrollment.
- If you and your caregiver do not have depressive symptoms, we will ask you to use the chemoWaveapp to track your symptoms for 12 weeks.
- If you or your caregiver have depressive symptoms, you will both receive 6-weeks of online cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) at no cost.
What happens during iCBT?
- You will have access to MoodGym, an online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program.
- You will have weekly online sessions with the nurse therapist to talk about depressive thoughts and how to cope with them.
What Do I Get From the Study?
- Free symptom management tools, including chemoWave and iCBT
- Greater insights into your treatment via symptom tracking
- Knowledge that you’re helping researchers learn about interventions to improve quality of life and depressive symptoms for pancreatic cancer patients and caregivers
- Chance to be entered into a raffle for a $150 Amazon gift card
For more information and to sign up for this study, contact Belinda Chen.
Phone: 310-794-5492
E-mail: bchen@sonnet.ucla.edu
https://www.nursing.ucla.edu/node/511