SYMON (NRG-CC012CD)

Managing symptoms and psychological distress during oral anti-cancer treatment (Sponsor NCI - R01 CA279472)

Study Background

Oral agents for chemotherapy are becoming an increasingly common modality for treatment

Patients receiving these treatments experience variable adherence, high symptom burden, yet have limited contacted with their providers compared to patients receiving chemotherapy infusions.

Twelve (12) NCORP community oncology sites, both rural and urban, will be recruited and cluster randomized. Community sites will participate for two years and will recruit 43 patients receiving oral chemotherapy.

As of November 2024, there are 12 approved recruitment

sites. Congratulations to the following:

Upstate Carolina NCORP/Anmed Health Cancer Center

CROWN NCORP/Aspirus Regional Cancer Center

Carle Cancer Center NCORP

Ozarks NCORP/Central Care Cancer Center

Ozarks NCORP AF/Lake Regional Health System

Georgia CaRes MU NCORP

Gulf South NCORP/LSU University Medical Center

NCORP of the Carolinas/Prisma Health Cancer Institute

Puerto Rico MU NCORP

CommonSpirit NCORP/Cancer Center at St Joseph's

Cook County MU NCORP/Stroger Hospital

New Mexico NCORP/University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center

Study Design

CC012CD is a cluster-randomized trial where twelve eligible NCORP community sites will be recruited. Six (6) practices will be randomized to the ATSM+TIPC intervention, and six (6) practices will be randomized to an active control (IVR only).

Practices will be asked to identify at minimum one (1) staff members who will be consented to participate in the study as clinic personnel. A total of 43 participants will be enrolled at each community site. For patients to be eligible to participate, they must be initiating treatment with an oral chemotherapy agent.

Intervention: ATSM+TIPC

Participants at these community sites will receive Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone symptom monitoring plus referral to self-management strategies provided via a printed handbook (ATSM). Any participants who report unresolved psychological distress in the first four (4) weeks will also receive Telephone Interpersonal Counselling (TIPC) for 8 weeks. Symptom reports from the IVR system will be sent to clinic personnel.

Active Control: IVR only

Participants at these community sites will receive Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone symptom monitoring only for 12 weeks. Symptom reports from the ATSM system will be sent to clinic personnel.