A randomized controlled trial testing a virtual program for Asian American women breast cancer survivors

Eun-Ok Im; Wonshik Chee; Sudeshna Paul; Mi-Young Choi; Seo Yun Kim; Janet A Deatrick; Jillian Inouye; Grace Ma; Salimah Meghani; Giang T Nguyen; Marilyn M Schapira; Connie M Ulrich; SeonAe Yeo; Ting Bao; David Shin; Jun J Mao

doi:10.1038/s41467-023-42132-6

A randomized controlled trial testing a virtual program for Asian American women breast cancer survivors

Nat Commun. 2023 Oct 14;14(1):6475. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-42132-6.

Authors

Eun-Ok Im¹, Wonshik Chee², Sudeshna Paul³, Mi-Young Choi^{3

4}, Seo Yun Kim³, Janet A Deatrick⁵, Jillian Inouye⁶, Grace Ma⁷, Salimah Meghani⁵, Giang T Nguyen⁸, Marilyn M Schapira⁵, Connie M Ulrich⁵, SeonAe Yeo⁹, Ting Bao¹⁰, David Shin¹¹, Jun J Mao¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ The University of Texas at Austin, 1710 Red River St, Austin, TX, 78712, USA. eunok.im@austin.utexas.edu.
² The University of Texas at Austin, 1710 Red River St, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
³ Emory University, 1520 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
⁴ Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-ro, Seowon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea.
⁵ University of Pennsylvania, 418 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
⁶ University of Hawaii, 2528 McCarthy Mall, Webster Hall 402, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.
⁷ Temple University, 1801 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA.
⁸ Harvard University Health Services, 75 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
⁹ University of North Carolina, Carrington Hall, S Columbia St, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
¹⁰ Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 321 East 61st Street, Room 456, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
¹¹ University of California, Los Angeles, 855 Tiverton Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA.

Abstract

A culturally tailored virtual program could meet the survivorship needs of Asian American women breast cancer survivors (AABC). This study aims to determine the efficacy of a culturally tailored virtual information and coaching/support program (TICAA) in improving AABC's survivorship experience. A randomized clinical trial (NCT02803593) was conducted from January 2017 to June 2020 among 199 AABC. The intervention group utilized TICAA and the American Cancer Society [ACS] website while the control group used only ACS website for 12 weeks. The outcomes were measured using the SCNS-34SF (needs; primary), the MSAS-SF (symptoms; secondary), and the FACT-B (quality of life; secondary). The data were analyzed using an intent-to-treat approach. The intervention group showed significant reductions in their needs from the baseline (T0) to post 4 weeks (T1) and to post 12 weeks (T2). Although the changes were not statistically significant, the intervention group had decreased symptoms from T0 to T2 while the control group had an increase in their symptoms. The intervention group had a significant increase in their quality of life from T0 to T2. A culturally tailored virtual program could therefore improve quality of life in AABC patients. Trial Registration: To Enhance Breast Cancer Survivorship of Asian Americans (TICAA), NCT02803593, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02803593?titles=TICAA&draw=2&rank=1.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Asian
Breast Neoplasms* / complications
Breast Neoplasms* / ethnology
Breast Neoplasms* / therapy
Cancer Survivors*
Culturally Competent Care
Female
Humans
Mentoring
Quality of Life*
Social Support
Survivors
Telemedicine

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02803593

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Associated data

Grants and funding