Expressive Disclosure Program for Colorectal CA Patients

描述（由申请人提供）：结直肠癌患者忍受身体衰退，干扰社会功能。疲劳、疼痛和肠道问题会影响日常社交活动。性的副作用会破坏夫妻关系的亲密度。对于社交网络减少的老年患者，变化加剧。根据社会认知处理模式，社会支持可以对心理健康产生重大影响，因为它可以促进癌症经历的认知处理，从而促进情绪适应。然而，讨论副作用可能很困难或令人尴尬;患者可能会避免讨论它们，以避免负面的社会反应。抑制情绪表达会阻碍认知过程，导致心理困扰。心理问题可能会影响医疗结果，如果不治疗，可能会发展成临床疾病，导致社会孤立和生活质量下降（QOL）。 基于团体的心理社会项目可以通过鼓励情绪表露来有效改善结直肠癌患者的情绪和社会支持，从而促进有效的认知处理。目前还没有对结直肠癌患者进行支持小组干预的研究。由于支持团体是癌症患者的标准心理社会转诊，有效的团体计划的基础上健全的理论框架，必须制定和调解干预的有效性必须确定。一种名为电子激活记录器（Electronically Activated Recorder，EAR）的新技术被认为是研究这些介质的一种有前途的手段，并克服了自我报告措施的局限性。我们将为结直肠癌患者开发和评估表达性披露小组计划的可行性，并对该技术进行试点测试。如果有效，我们的表达性披露计划可能会提供一个低成本，易于传播的手段，针对心理功能和生活质量的结直肠癌患者。 我们提出了一个两部分的研究，包括结直肠癌患者的描述性研究，目的是开发表达性披露组计划和一个小的随机可行性研究，这个程序。研究的两个部分将招募总共64名结直肠癌患者。具体目标是：（1）对结直肠癌患者进行描述性研究，以评估生活质量问题和对干预形式和后勤的偏好;（2）使用这些信息制定表达性披露小组计划;（3）试点测试一种名为“表达性披露”的新技术，用于评估社会支持和认知处理，并将这些数据与自我报告措施进行比较;（4）对表达性披露小组计划进行试点测试，并进行过程评估，包括招募率和保留率、出勤率、满意度、障碍和随机化的可行性;以及（5）探讨表达性披露小组计划对生活质量和心理功能的结果变量的影响，以及在中介作用方面的作用。认知加工、应对技能和社会支持的变量。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Colorectal cancer patients endure physical declines which interfere with social functioning. Fatigue, pain, and bowel problems impact routine social activities. Sexual side effects disrupt the intimacy of spousal relationships. Changes intensify for older patients with diminished social networks. According to the Social Cognitive Processing Model, social support can have a significant effect on psychological well-being, as it may facilitate cognitive processing of the cancer experience, thereby promoting emotional adaptation. However, side effects may be difficult or embarrassing to discuss; patients may refrain from discussing them to avoid negative social responses. Inhibiting emotional expression can hinder cognitive processing, resulting in psychological distress. Psychological problems can compromise medical outcomes, and if untreated, can develop into clinical disorders resulting in social isolation and reduced quality of life (QOL). Group-based psychosocial programs may effectively improve mood and social support for colorectal cancer patients by encouraging emotional disclosure, thereby facilitating effective cognitive processing. There has been no study of support group interventions with colorectal cancer patients. Since support groups are a standard psychosocial referral for cancer patients, effective group programs based on sound theoretical frameworks must be developed, and mediators for intervention effectiveness must be identified. A novel technology called the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR) proposes to be a promising means for studying these mediators and overcomes the limitations of self-report measures. We will develop and assess the feasibility of an Expressive Disclosure Group Program for colorectal cancer patients and pilot test the EAR technology. If effective, our Expressive Disclosure Program may provide a low cost, easily disseminated means for targeting psychological functioning and QOL in colorectal cancer patients. We propose a two-part study including a descriptive study of colorectal cancer patients for the purpose of developing the Expressive Disclosure Group Program and a small randomized feasibility study of this program. A total of 64 colorectal cancer patients will be recruited for both parts of the study. The specific aims are to: (1) conduct a descriptive study of colorectal cancer patients in an effort to assess QOL issues and preferences regarding intervention format and logistics; (2) use the information to develop an Expressive Disclosure Group Program; (3) pilot test a novel technology called the EAR for assessing social support and cognitive processing and compare these data to self-report measures; (4) pilot test the Expressive Disclosure Group Program and conduct process evaluation including rates of recruitment and retention, attendance, satisfaction, barriers and feasibility of randomization; and (5) explore the effects of the Expressive Disclosure Group Program on the outcome variables of QOL and psychological functioning and on the mediating variables of cognitive processing, coping skills, and social support.