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A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Survivorship Needs Assessment Planning (SNAP) Tool for Head and Neck Cancer Survivor-Caregiver Dyads

NCT ID: NCT05811936Sponsor: Medical University of South CarolinaLast updated: 2026-06-11

Summary

In this randomized behavioral intervention, head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors and their caregivers (N=176 HNC survivor-caregiver dyads) will be randomized to either Survivorship Needs Assessment Planning (SNAP) or Usual Care (UC) groups to examine the effects of SNAP on outcomes. SNAP includes two sessions with a needs assessment and tailored care plan and a supportive mobile app after completion of radiation to promote uptake of recommended medical and supportive care. The study aims to evaluate the effects of SNAP on symptom severity in patients and caregiver burden in caregivers. Secondary outcomes include psychological distress (anxiety and depression), healthcare utilization (receipt of recommended care) and unmet needs and self-efficacy in HNC survivor-caregiver dyads. Participants will complete surveys at baseline, 6 months, and 9 months post randomization with validated PROMs, and receive intervention modules at the end of radiation and month 3. Participants in the SNAP group will also receive mobile app support.

Detailed description

The SNAP Intervention includes two care planning modules, a caregiver visit (module I) during the end of radiation treatment and a dyad-focused (survivor and caregiver) visit (module II) at 3 months. Each SNAP module includes 3 components including: 1) an in-clinic needs assessment, 2) a tailored care plan and 3) text-based e-monitoring at home. In both modules, a care plan is generated with algorithm-triggered messages and referrals to recommended care matched to endorsed concerns. Care plans are reviewed and barriers are addressed. Referrals are finalized with an Advanced Practice Provider (APP). SNAP Participants leave with a personalized binder including the survivorship care plan and referrals. SNAP Participants use an e-monitoring App and receive twice weekly engagement prompts for 6 weeks. Usual Care (UC) participants will receive caregiver education and dyadic survivorship education visit at the end of radiation treatment and 3-months post-randomization, respectively, with printed materials from the National Cancer Institute.

Arms & interventions

  • BehavioralSurvivorship Needs Assessment Planning (SNAP) tool

    SNAP includes 2 educational survivorship modules for caregivers and survivors. There are 3 main elements: needs assessment, a tailored care plan and a mobile support app. SNAP uses pre-specified categories of needs, resources, and messaging "behind the scenes" to automate the identification, rating and management of high priority needs. Generated tailored care plans include referrals, messages and educational materials mapped to prioritized dyad-reported concerns addressing survivorship domains (diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care). Care plans and referrals are reviewed with an Advanced Practice Provider. Barriers to uptake are addressed, goal-oriented action planning is refined with brief mobile app training. Dyads receive a personalized binder with care plan, referrals, and an action plan. Dyads receive e-monitoring for 6 weeks to check in and identify barriers with algorithm-driven messaging to reinforce progress, provide further resources and encouragement.

Outcome measures

Primary

  • Change from baseline in Caregiver Burden at 9 months post randomization

    Caregivers report the extent to which caregiving impacts time, responsibilities, and strain utilizing the Zarit Burden Inventory. Caregivers rate each item on a 5-point Likert scale (0=Never to 4=Always); higher scores (0-16) indicate greater burden. An increase in change from baseline to 6 week, 6 months or 9 months follow up visit would increased caregiver distress; likewise a decrease in change would indicate reduced caregiver distress. Cronbach's alphas in previous research range from 0.81-0.83.

    Time frame: Caregivers will be assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 9 months post randomization

  • Change from baseline in Symptom Severity in head and neck cancer survivors at 9 months post randomization

    Symptom burden in survivors will be assessed with the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head and Neck Cancer Module (MDASI-HN) The MDASI -HN includes 13 core items and an additional 9 head and neck cancer module items which calculates a total score of symptom severity. The MDASI assesses the severity of symptoms at their worst in the last 24 hours on a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale, with 0 being "not present" and 10 being "as bad as you can imagine." Core items and module symptom items are averaged into a mean module severity. A higher score always indicates an increase in severity. A decrease in change from baseline to 9-month assessment indicates improvement of symptoms. Cronbach's alphas in previous research range from 0.88-0.92.

    Time frame: Survivors will be assessed at baseline, and at 6 months and 9 months post randomization

Secondary

  • Change from baseline in Depression for Caregivers at 9 months post randomization

    Time frame: Caregivers will be assessed at baseline, 6 months and 9 months

  • Change from baseline in Anxiety for Caregivers at 9 months post randomization

    Time frame: Caregivers will be assessed at baseline, 6 months and 9 months

  • Change from baseline in Depression for Survivors at 9 months post randomization

    Time frame: Survivors will be assessed at baseline, 6 months and 9 months

  • Change from baseline in Anxiety for Survivors at 9 months post randomization

    Time frame: Survivors will be assessed at baseline, 6 months and 9 months

  • Change in Healthcare Utilization (HCU)/ receipt of recommended care at 6 months in head and neck cancer survivor-caregiver dyads.

    Time frame: Dyads (Survivor & Caregiver) will be assessed at baseline, 6 months and 9 months

  • Change in from baseline Unmet Needs at 6 months in head and neck cancer Caregivers

    Time frame: Caregivers will be assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months, 9 months

  • Change in from baseline Unmet Needs at 6 months in head and neck cancer Survivors

    Time frame: Survivors will be assessed at baseline, 6 months, 9 months

  • Change in from baseline Self-efficacy at 6 months in head and neck cancer Caregivers

    Time frame: Caregivers will be assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months, 9 months

  • Change in from baseline Self-efficacy at 6 months in head and neck cancer Survivors

    Time frame: Survivors will be assessed at baseline, 6 months, 9 months

Eligibility criteria

Sex: AllAge: 18 Years and olderHealthy volunteers: No
Patient Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age \>18 2. Stage I-IV non-metastatic HNC (i.e., lip/oral cavity, nasopharynx, salivary gland, oropharynx, hypopharynx, paranasal sinus, larynx and cutaneous cancers) 3. Currently receiving radiation treatment (with/without surgery and/or concurrent chemotherapy) with curative intent 4. Able to nominate caregiver, the primary support person, also interested in participating Caregiver Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age \>18 2. Provide care for a loved one with stage I-IV HNC 3. Agrees to participate after being nominated Patient Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients who do not read/understand English 2. Patients who are cognitively impaired and cannot complete interviews as judged by the referring health care provider 3. Patients concurrently diagnosed with and/or receiving treatment for a second "significant" primary cancer, except the following: * Excised and cured non-melanoma skin cancer * Carcinoma in situ of breast or cervix * Superficial bladder cancer * Stage 1 differentiated thyroid cancer that is resected or observed * pT1a/pT1b prostate cancer comprising \<5% of resected tissue with normal prostate specific antigen (PSA) since resection * cT1a/cT1b prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy Caregiver Exclusion Criteria: 1. Inability to read or understand English 2. Cognitively impaired and cannot complete interviews, as judged by the referring health care provider

Study locations (1)

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425

Recruiting
Katherine Sterba, PhD, MPH · Contact
8438762419sterba@musc.edu
The SNAP Tool for Head and Neck Cancer Survivor-Caregiver Dyads | Cancerify