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Web-Based Toolkit to Improve Cancer-Related Emotional Distress and Anxiety in Rural Older Cancer Survivors
Designing for Sustainability: Co-Designing and Testing the Efficacy of a Web-Based Toolkit to Improve Cancer-Related Emotional Distress and Anxiety for Rural Older Cancer Survivors
Who can join
Ages 18 and older · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * AIM 1: Invited by a member of the study team * AIM 1: In the following or related field: * Healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc.) * Patient advocates and representatives * Researchers in healthcare or technology fields * Healthcare administrators and managers * AIM 1: Must be over 18 years old * AIM 1: English-speaking * AIM 1: Willing and able to provide informed consent * AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): A rural resident based on the Health Resources \& Services Administration (HRSA) rural analyzer * AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Self-report of diagnosis with any cancer * AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Self-report posttreatment (i.e., completion of curative intent therapy including surgery, chemotherapy, molecularly targeted, and endocrine therapy) * AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Have access to a computer, a smartphone, or a tablet computer * AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Aged \> 65 years old * AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Assessed as having Cancer and Treatment Distress scale (CTXD) scores \> 0.85 at screening * AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Have a caregiver willing to participate * AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Non-institutionalized * AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): English proficient * AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Willing and able to provide informed consent * AIM 2 (CAREGIVER): An identified informal caregiver of an eligible ROCS (caregivers include, but are not limited to, a child, partner, or friend; caregivers can reside in a rural or urban area and may or may not live with the ROCS * AIM 2 (CAREGIVER): Have internet access * AIM 2 (CAREGIVER): ≥ 18 years old * AIM 2 (CAREGIVER): Non-institutionalized * AIM 2 (CAREGIVER): English proficient * AIM 2 (CAREGIVER): Willing and able to provide informed consent * AIM 3 (FINAL WORKSHOP): Includes providers, medical and practice managers, patient care coordinators, and medical health technologists Exclusion Criteria: * AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS): Experience a cancer recurrence or a new cancer diagnosis during their participation in the trial because of the body of literature that reports increased distress associated with cancer recurrence * AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS AND CAREGIVER): Are inpatients * AIM 2 (RURAL OLDER CANCER SURVIVORS AND CAREGIVER): Cognitive impairment precludes the ability to provide written consent
About the study
This clinical trial tests how well a web based toolkit works to improve cancer related emotional distress and anxiety in rural older cancer survivors. Rural older adults with cancer-related distress are particularly vulnerable to poorer mental health and cancer-related outcomes including increased difficulties identifying symptoms of anxiety, a reduced likelihood of knowing when to access mental health services, and a higher likelihood of having poorly managed CRD, even after receiving a psychosocial referral. The web based tool kit called CONNECT addresses digital literacy and supports for cancer-related distress management through interactive activities for setting up telehealth visits, accessing educational materials about cancer-related distress, and providing individualized mental health resource recommendations. Using CONNECT may improve cancer related emotional distress and anxiety in rural older cancer survivors.
What is being tested
- Educational Intervention (other)
- Educational Intervention (other)
- Internet-Based Intervention (other)
- Interview (other)
- Interview (other)
- Patient Navigation (behavioral)
Sponsor: Northwestern University · Participants: 578 · Started: Aug 26, 2025
Contact the study team
- Study Coordinator · Phone: 312-503-1986
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07290543
Locations in the U.S.
| Illinois | Northwestern University, Chicago |
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.