Clinical trial · Interventional
Coping Together: Couple-based Interventions for Cancer
Couple Communication Skills Training for Advanced Cancer
NCT04590885CI-TRIAL-00101194CCST2completedN/AClinicalTrials.gov clinicaltrialsProvenance
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
The objective of the proposed study is to evaluate the Couple Communication Skills Training (CCST) intervention in 250 patients with advanced cancer and their spouses/intimate partners. Couples will be randomized 1:1 to receive either the CCST or to an attention control condition (Healthy Living Information; HLI). We will evaluate CCST effects on a range of patient and partner relationship and psychological outcomes.
Conditions
Conditions (1)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Cancer | Malignant Neoplasm | CURATED_BROADER | 0.78 |
Interventions
Interventions (2)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Couple Communication Skills Training | Behavioral | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Healthy Lifestyle Information | Behavioral | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- OTHER
- label
- Couple Communication and Support
- description
- CCST includes components to assist couples in communicating effectively, decreasing avoidance of important cancer-related issues, and providing each other with support. It includes training in skills for sharing one's thoughts and feelings and listening to one's partner and responding in a supportive manner, and joint problem solving. Participants will be asked to participate inactivities at home between sessions to strengthen skills acquisition.
- interventionNames
- Behavioral: Couple Communication Skills Training
- type
- OTHER
- label
- Healthy Lifestyle Informaion
- description
- Healthy Lifestyle Information provides couples with health information relevant to cancer in a supportive environment. Sessions focus on the following topics: fatigue, sleep disturbance, nutrition, physical activity, survivorship care plans, and palliative care. Patients and partners are invited to discuss their experiences around the session topics with the therapist and ask questions about the information presented.
- interventionNames
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Married or in a committed intimate relationship 2. Diagnosis of one the following advanced cancers: Stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer or extensive stage small cell lung cancer, Stage III pancreatic cancer or Stage IV GI cancer, Stage IV GU cancer, Stage IV breast cancer and GYN cancer Stage III-IV ovarian, IV uterine, IV cervical. 3. Both members of the couple must speak and read English. 4. Patient and/or partner scores \>=1.0 on the Holding Back screen. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patient lacks capacity for interview (documented diagnosis of active psychosis or dementia) or is unable to provide informed consent as assessed by research staff. 2. Patient has a life expectancy \< 6 months as estimated by his/her treating oncologist. 3. Patient or partner is physically impaired in such a way that precludes the use of a computer or videoconferencing. 4. Patient or partner is too sick to participate, as judged by the oncologist or research staff.
References
Publications (1)
- DERIVEDPorter LS, Ramos K, Baucom DH, Steinhauser K, Erkanli A, Strauman TJ, Zafar SY, Check DK, Leo K, Liu E, Keefe FJ. Evaluating a couple communication skills training (CCST) intervention for advanced cancer: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2022 Aug 26;23(1):712. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06656-4. PMID 36028908