Psychoeducational and Behavioral Strategies in Reducing Distress and Anxiety in Patients With Multiple Myeloma and Their Family Caregivers

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the effect of the intervention, as compared to the control group, on emotional distress, the primary outcome, measured as anxiety in patients with multiple myeloma and their caregivers at the transition. II. Evaluate the effect, including the effect size, of the intervention, as compared to the control group, on activation for self-management, fatigue, depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in both patients and caregivers. III. Assess the feasibility, acceptability, and content integrity of the intervention in patients with multiple myeloma and their family caregivers. OUTLINE: Participants are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: Participants meet with a nurse in-person for approximately 30 minutes to receive information about strategies for cognitive self-management of distress and an individualized walking prescription to gradually increase their walking to 30 minutes per day, 5 times per week. Participants wear a pedometer for at least 3 consecutive days during weeks 1, 6, and 12. Participants are also contacted by the nurse via telephone at 1 and 3 weeks for supplemental counseling support. ARM II: Participants meet with a nurse in-person for approximately 20 minutes to receive National Cancer Institute (NCI) educational booklets and a link to the American Cancer Society (ACS) website. Participants are also contacted by the nurse via telephone at 1 and 3 weeks but the calls are primarily social in nature and do not include counseling support.