title: Protocol of a multi-centre randomised controlled trial of a web-based information intervention with nurse-delivered telephone support for haematological cancer patients and their support persons.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High rates of anxiety, depression and unmet needs are evident amongst haematological cancer patients undergoing treatment and their Support Persons. Psychosocial distress may be minimised by ensuring that patients are sufficiently involved in decision making, provided with tailored information and adequate preparation for potentially threatening procedures. To date, there are no published studies evaluating interventions designed to reduce psychosocial distress and unmet needs specifically in patients with haematological cancers and their Support Persons. This study will examine whether access to a web-based information tool and nurse-delivered telephone support reduces depression, anxiety and unmet information needs for haematological cancer patients and their Support Persons.
  
  
  METHODS
  A non-blinded, parallel-group, multi-centre randomised controlled trial will be conducted to compare the effectiveness of a web-based information tool and nurse-delivered telephone support with usual care. Participants will be recruited from the haematology inpatient wards of five hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. Patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Burkitt's lymphoma, Lymphoblastic lymphoma (B or T cell), or Diffuse Large B-Cell lymphoma and their Support Persons will be eligible to participate. Patients and their Support Persons will be randomised as dyads. Participants allocated to the intervention will receive access to a tailored web-based tool that provides accurate, up-to-date and personalised information about: cancer and its causes; treatment options including treatment procedures information; complementary and alternative medicine; and available support. Patients and Support Persons will complete self-report measures of anxiety, depression and unmet needs at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks post-recruitment. Patient and Support Person outcomes will be assessed independently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study will assess whether providing information and support using web-based and telephone support address the major psychosocial challenges faced by haematological patients and their Support Persons. The approach, if found to be effective, has potential to improve psychosocial outcomes for haematological and other cancer patients, reduce the complexity and burden of meeting patients' psychosocial needs for health care providers with high potential for translation into clinical practice.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ACTRN12612000720819.
authors.affiliation: Public Health/HBRG. HMRI Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. Jamie.Bryant@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.affiliation: Public Health/HBRG. HMRI Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. Rob.Sanson-Fisher@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanson-Fisher
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, St Leonards, NSW, 2065, Australia. william.stevenson@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.affiliation: Public Health/HBRG. HMRI Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. Rochelle.Smits@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Rochelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smits
authors.affiliation: Public Health/HBRG. HMRI Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. Frans.Henskens@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Frans
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Henskens
authors.affiliation: The Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, The Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. A.wei@alfred.org.au.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. Flora.Tzelepis@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tzelepis
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Building 62 Mills Road, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia. Catherine.DEste@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Este
authors.affiliation: Public Health/HBRG. HMRI Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. Chris.Paul@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Public Health/HBRG. HMRI Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. Mariko.Carey@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carey
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D001315:Australia; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009726:Nurses; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone