Support for Cancer Patients Awaiting News

Cancer patients repeatedly undergo routine scans that inform their disease status and treatment. While awaiting the results, anxiety and uncertainty are elevated, which can negatively impact quality of life. Evidence-based stress management strategies have the potential to be useful during this unique time period, but require tailoring for this population and context. The goal of this study is to pilot test an adapted stress management program to help patients manage their anxiety while awaiting scan results. The program is a behavioral intervention that includes psychoeducation and stress management activities, delivered via a web platform to promote dissemination. In the Open Trial phase, the program will be field tested in a single-arm trial, using feedback to refine materials and procedures as needed before formal piloting. In the Pilot RCT phase, a small RCT will be conducted to test the intervention's feasibility and acceptability and to examine preliminary effects on anxiety and other secondary outcomes.