Anxiety & Depression Association of America

AYA-PeerConnect: A Communication Coaching Intervention for Adolescent/Young Adult Cancer Survivors (AYACS)

Purpose

This research is being done to test a communication coaching intervention pilot designed to improve communication quality between adolescent/young adult cancer survivors (AYACS) and their friends/peers. The results of the study will help to understand how to best support adolescent/young adult cancer survivors, and may inform the development or future implementation of similar programs for cancer survivor populations.

Conditions

Communication
Anxiety
Depression
Social Isolation

Eligibility

Eligible Ages: Between 18 Years and 35 Years
Eligible Sex: All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Inclusion Criteria

Participant is currently ≥18-35 years old - Participant is receiving cancer-directed care at Penn State Cancer Institute or Penn State Children's Hospital - Participant has completed all cancer-directed therapy and is at least 1 year from end of cancer treatment (based on date of last cancer-directed treatment) - Participant has access to a computer with internet capability - Participant is fluent in written and spoken English

Exclusion Criteria

Participant is not fluent in written and spoken English - Participant with cognitive inability to participant in the study as determined by the study team - Participants with history of relapsed cancer

Study Design

Phase: N/A
Study Type: Interventional
Allocation: N/A
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Masking: None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

Arm	Description	Assigned Intervention
Experimental Asynchronous coaching and artificial intelligence (AI) Yoodli coach sessions	The intervention will use a combination of asynchronous communication coaching sessions, and AI Yoodli coach sessions.	Behavioral: Asynchronous coaching and artificial intelligence (AI) Yoodli coach sessions Participants will complete asynchronous individual sessions for Visits 2-4. Each visit will include a 60-minute interactive didactic session using Rise 360 software, with a 20-minute Yoodli AI coaching session (both Rise 360 and Yoodli will be accessed via website). Rise 360 sessions will cover topics related to communication style, multiple goals theory and how to apply concepts learned in being good communicators. Yoodli AI coaching session will be completed for the corresponding Rise 360 session before moving to the next visit's session. The 20-minute Yoodli AI coaching sessions will include coaching from the Yoodli AI coach and practicing various peer conversation situations. These sessions will consolidate and reinforce concepts learned in the didactic sessions. The Yoodli AI coach is programmed with input on relationship style (a communication tool to assess communication style) to deliver personalized coaching.

Recruiting Locations

More Details

Status: Recruiting
Sponsor: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Study Contact

Pooja Rao, MD MSCE
7175316012
prao2@pennstatehealth.psu.edu

Detailed Description

This study is being done to test a communication coaching intervention designed to improve communication quality between adolescent/young adult cancer survivors (AYACS) and their friends/peers. The results of the study will help to understand how to best support adolescent/young adult cancer survivors, and may inform the development or future implementation of similar programs for cancer survivor populations.