This trial studies the feasibility and acceptability of an expressive writing intervention for addressing distress in hospitalized patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Expressive writing is a prompt-guided and facilitated writing intervention designed to promote healing from trauma and emotional upheavals, to resolve life challenges, cultivate resilience, and to improve overall health and well-being. As an accessible, low-cost intervention, writing to heal may improve quality of life and reduce the negative physical and psychosocial effects of cancer in adult oncology
populations.
Study sponsor and potential other locations can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov for NCT04006496.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
I. To determine the feasibility and acceptability of an expressive writing intervention among acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients receiving inpatient chemotherapy.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:
I. To examine outcome patterns pertaining to the efficacy of an expressive writing intervention on improving patient-centered outcome measures among AML patients receiving inpatient therapy.
OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.
ARM I: Patients participate in a 1 hour expressive writing session including the delivery of writing prompts, instructions, writing analyses, and coaching from a trained facilitator twice weekly for 2 weeks. Patients also receive standard of care.
ARM II: Patients participate in a 1 hour neutral writing exercise session including writing prompts and instructions twice weekly for 2 weeks. Patients also receive standard of care.
After completion of study, patients are followed up at 3 months.
Trial PhaseNo phase specified
Trial Typesupportive care
Lead OrganizationDuke University Medical Center
Principal InvestigatorThomas W. LeBlanc
