FOCUS:Families OverComing Under Stress (NCT02992405) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
FOCUS:Families OverComing Under Stress
United States32 participantsStarted 2016-12-05
Plain-language summary
The FOCUS program (study treatment) is an established evidence-based intervention whose redesign for families and couples dealing with serious and chronic illnesses will provide a creative and promising supplement to the existing support services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. All participants will receive the 10-weeks of 75-minute weekly study treatment, but will be split into two groups, the immediate treatment group and the wait list treatment group, who will receive the study treatment after the immediate 10 weeks of treatment is completed.
Who can participate
Age range
5 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Couples must have at least one partner and families at least one parent who is or has been diagnosed with cancer at least 30 days prior to study start and not more than one year from last treatment visit.
. Couples or parents must be at least 18 years old and must be English speakers.
. At least one member of the couple must score \>60 on the Anxiety or Depression scale on the Brief Symptom Index 18 administered during the screening visit and/or have notable difficulties in relationship or family functioning, as resulted in a ≥2 score in FAD subscale or at least one RDAS subscale question answered 'more often than not' or more frequent.
. The families participating in the study must have at least one child older than the age of five.
. Participating families must have at least one parent who can provide legal consent for the participation of their child(ren) in the program.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
. Participants must be willing and able to complete 10 sessions within 14 weeks.
. Participants undergoing active management or care plans for abuse or psychopathology may enroll in study if reports of ongoing management are provided.
Exclusion criteria
. There must not be any participant with urgent and/or immediate health needs (where a possible 10-week wait time poses more than minimal risks).
. There must not be active (within the last 30 days and/or during study intervention) and unmanaged domestic violence or abuse, substance abuse, or extreme forms of psychopathology such as psychosis that would interfere with the treatment.
. Primary presenting personal and/or relational issues are largely unrelated to the cancer diagnosis and treatment, as determined by the screening clinician.