Enriching Neuro-Oncology Survivorship: A Novel Symptom Management Education to Living Fully (SELF)

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle WA

Investigators

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY The purpose of this NIH/NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00) is to provide research training during the K99 Phase for Karl Cristie Figuracion, PhD, ARNP, a first- year postdoctoral research fellow at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (Fred Hutch)/University of Washington (UW), and to become a productive, independent scientist during the R00 Phase with a research program focused on interventions to reduce symptom burden, improve quality of life (QoL), and return-to-work (RTW) outcomes in brain tumor survivors. This K99/R00 proposal outlines a training and career development plan that builds on and expands Dr. Figuracion's research skills to become a competitive applicant for a tenure-track faculty position at a research-intensive institution. Training Plan: To expand her research toolkit and advance her transition to independence, Dr. Figuracion assembled a multidisciplinary team of expert mentors from Fred Hutch and UW. Together with her mentors, they designed a robust training plan that includes regular mentored meetings and relevant advanced coursework, seminars, workshops, and research activities. The specific Learn the fundamental methods to develop a symptom management education intervention; 2) Receive didactic and hands-on training in qualitative study designs and analysis; 3) Gain didactic and hands-on training in analysis; and 4) Tra training goals of the K99 phase are to: 1) intervention design and implementation, clinical trial design, and nsition to an independent scientist by building a publication record in cancer survivorship and neuro-oncology survivorship research. Research plan: Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutant glioma BT survivors experience significant symptom burden that impacts their overall QoL and RTW outcomes after radiation therapy (RT). However, there are limited symptom management interventions to improve self- management skills and health outcomes after RT. During the K99 Phase, Dr. Figuracion will refine a novel 5- session intervention, Symptom Management Education to Living Fully (SELF), which she developed in collaboration with subject matter experts. Specific Aim: 1) Refine SELF curriculum content through focus groups with IDH mutant glioma BT survivors (n=6-8), caregivers (n=6-8), and clinical care team (n=6-8). During the R00 Phase, she will test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of SELF on reducing symptom burden and improving QoL, and RTW outcomes in IDH mutant glioma BT survivors (n=40). Specific Aims: 2) Test the study design feasibility as assessed via recruitment, adherence, retention, fidelity, and acceptability; 3) Examine the preliminary efficacy of SELF on self-efficacy, symptom burden, QoL, and RTW outcomes; and 4) Explore the preliminary effects of SELF on health promoting behaviors. Data generated in the R00 will serve as preliminary data for a future R01 efficacy trial to test the effects of SELF on increasing self-efficacy, reducing symptom burden, and improving QoL and RTW outcomes in BT survivors. The research generated from this K99/R00 will advance symptom management interventions to improve health outcomes in BT survivors.