A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of the Use of a Website About Radioactive Iodine Symptom Management in Patients With Thyroid Cancer
Georgetown University
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if adult patients diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer can easily use and benefit from an online tool aimed to provide patients with educational resources and symptom management strategies to improve their quality of life after radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Can patients easily use and benefit from the RAI Support intervention? 2. Does RAI Support improve health-related quality of life (overall well-being) compared to usual care? This research will help test better digital tools to support thyroid cancer survivors in managing their health after RAI treatment. Researchers will compare RAI Support to treatment as usual (a publicly available informational website about thyroid cancer) to see if RAI Support works to improve patients' overall well-being. Participants will: 1. Receive access to RAI Support or an informational website (treatment as usual) for four weeks. 2. Use the assigned website once a week for up to four weeks. 3. Complete two online questionnaires (an initial questionnaire and a final questionnaire after four weeks of using the assigned website) about symptoms related to RAI treatment, mood, and confidence in managing symptoms. 4. Complete an optional 60 minute virtual interview about your experiencing using the assigned website.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 or older (papillary or follicular carcinoma) * Diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer * Received radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment less than or equal to three years ago. * Mild to moderate symptoms of RAI * Able to provide informed consent in English * Access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone with internet connectivity Exclusion Criteria: * A condition that precludes providing informed consent or completing study procedures (cognitive or psychiatric condition, hearing problems) as identified by the patient's physician or as assessed by a trained study…
Interventions
- BehavioralRadioactive Iodine Support (RAI Support)
RAI Support consists of multimedia content (images, videos, text, audio, and infographics across different website pages) that is written at an 8th grade reading level. RAI Support uses patient materials that are visually diverse to appeal to patients from different racial and ethnic backgrounds and inclusion of all genders. RAI Support users can access short (\~3 minutes or less) clinician-approved symptom management education videos and follow clinician-led video-guided activities such as nutrition management for dry mouth. In addition, RAI Support contains infographic pages about specific symptoms of RAI (e.g., salivary, lacrimal, and nasal symptoms with strategies for symptom management) and a resources page consisting of a printable treatment summary and survivorship plan to bring to provider appointments and access to evidence-based stress-management resources such as relaxation recordings.
- OtherTreatment as Usual (TAU)
The American Cancer Society (ACS) website on Radioactive Iodine (Radioiodine)Therapy for Thyroid Cancer is the TAU comparison. This website is a reputable and trusted source of information about cancer, with relevant content and web availability. Using the ACS website allows participants in both groups to receive information (addressing ethical concerns) through a website (similar delivery mode for information).
Location
- Georgetown UniversityWashington D.C., District of Columbia