Pilot Study of Vietnamese Self-Help Plus Stress Management for Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Patients in Viet Nam

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the Vietnamese Self Help Plus vSH stress management program for women with breast and gynecologic cancers in Viet Nam. Psychological distress is common but often overlooked in these patients due to clinical workload. This study is a two-arm, single-blind randomized controlled trial comparing the vSH intervention to enhanced usual care, aiming to pilot the intervention and assess its potential effectiveness and feasibility. Participants are randomly assigned to either the vSH intervention group or the enhanced usual care group. The vSH program involves four 75-minute sessions teaching core stress management skills, led by healthcare workers and peer cancer survivors. Both groups receive an illustrated guide called Doing What Matters in Times of Stress. Participants attend an in-person information session to provide consent and receive their assigned intervention. Participants complete surveys at baseline, 1-2 weeks post-intervention, and 3 months post-intervention to measure changes in depression, anxiety, quality of life, and cancer coping. Qualitative interviews and focus groups are conducted with participants, caregivers, healthcare workers, and facilitators to evaluate acceptability and feasibility. The total study duration extends through 2026, with assessments occurring by phone after the initial session.

Stress Management Intervention Among Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Patients in Viet Nam