Bounce Back Study Protocol: Randomized Waitlist-Control Trial of a Web-Based Stress-Management and Resiliency Program for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The emotional health of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (AYAs) is compromised both during and after cancer treatment. Targeted programs designed to support AYAs’ ability to cope with stress in the years following treatment completion are lacking. Mind-body programs may ameliorate the negative psychological and emotional effects of stress and assist AYAs with managing the psychosocial challenges of early survivorship. OBJECTIVE Our randomized waitlist-control trial aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a virtual group program (Bounce Back) to promote stress management and resiliency among post-treatment AYAs. METHODS Bounce Back is a stress management and resiliency program delivered via videoconference by a trained mental health clinician. Sessions were adapted from an evidence-based mind-body program (SMART-3RP) grounded in relaxation response elicitation, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, and positive psychology. Seventy-two AYAs (diagnosed with cancer between ages 14-29 and had completed cancer treatment within the last five years) were randomly assigned to the Bounce Back program or waitlist control group and completed assessments at baseline, three months, and six months post-baseline. The primary aim of the study is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of the Bounce Back program. Descriptive statistics, including means, frequencies, and ranges supplemented by qualitative exit interview feedback will be used to characterize the sample and to summarize feasibility and acceptability. The exploratory aims are to evaluate the preliminary effects of the program on stress coping and psychosocial outcome measures (i.e., anxiety, depression) collected across the three timepoints. RESULTS This study was funded by the National Cancer Institute in July, 2017. Study procedures were approved by the Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center IRB in October, 2018 (Protocol 18-428). The randomized trial was conducted from July 2019- March of 2021. Quantitative data collection is complete and qualitative exit interview data collection is ongoing. Results are expected to be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at local, national, and/or international meetings in the coming years. CONCLUSIONS Few evidence-based programs exist that tackle the key transitional issues faced by AYA cancer survivors. Future analyses will help us determine the feasibility and acceptability of the Bounce Back program and its impact on AYA stress coping and psychological well-being. CLINICALTRIAL Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03768336