title: A tailored Web-based psychoeducational intervention for cancer patients and their family caregivers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most programs addressing psychosocial concerns of cancer survivors are in-person programs that are expensive to deliver, have limited availability, and seldom deal with caregivers' concerns.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the feasibility of translating an efficacious nurse-delivered program (FOCUS Program) for patients and their caregivers to a tailored, dyadic Web-based format. Specific aims were to (1) test the preliminary effects of the Web-based intervention on patient and caregiver outcomes, (2) examine participants' program satisfaction, and (3) determine the feasibility of using a Web-based delivery format.
  
  
  METHODS
  A phase 2 feasibility study was conducted with cancer patients (lung, breast, colorectal, prostate) and their family caregivers (N = 38 dyads). The Web-based intervention provided information and support tailored to the unique characteristics of each patient, caregiver, and their dyadic relationship. Primary outcomes were emotional distress and quality of life. Secondary outcomes were benefits of illness/caregiving, communication, support, and self-efficacy. Analyses included descriptive statistics and repeated-measures analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dyads had a significant decrease in emotional distress, increase in quality of life, and perceived more benefits of illness/caregiving. Caregivers also had significant improvement in self-efficacy. There were no changes in communication. Participants were satisfied with program usability, but recommended additional content.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was possible to translate a clinician-delivered program to a Web-based format that was easy to use and had positive effects on dyadic outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Web-based program is a promising way to provide psychosocial care to more patients and caregivers using fewer personnel. It needs further testing in a larger randomized clinical trial.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: School of Nursing (Drs Northouse, Katapodi, and Ronis and Ms Yoon), Center for Health Communication Research (Dr An and Ms Barr), and Hospitals and Health Center (Ms Schafenacker), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; College of Nursing (Dr Brittain), Michigan State University, Lansing; and School of Nursing (Dr Song), University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Northouse
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schafenacker
authors.forename: Kathryn L C
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katapodi
authors.forename: Hyojin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brittain
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ronis
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: An
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D064878:Web Browser / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*