Are you a carer or partner of someone with advanced cancer? 

Researchers at the University of Newcastle are testing whether information, a skills-based manual with support check-ins from a health professional and an online support group can help caregivers cope better with their difficult thoughts and feelings, and consequently be able to engage more in what is important to them.  
 

Why is the research being done? 

There is currently a limited understanding of how best to support caregivers and significant others of people with advanced cancer.

Carers experience many difficult thoughts and feelings about their situation and can have difficulty engaging more fully in the parts of their life that are important to them at this time.  

This project will test the use of a self-help intervention (iACT) that is aimed at providing carers with skills to cope better through their difficult situation, along with information that has been identified as highly important to carers of people with advanced cancer.

We are interested to know if the resource that has been designed is useful and acceptable, and whether the intervention helps to improve participants' well-being.  

 

Who can participate in the research? 

• You must be over the age of 18 years 
• You must be caring for a person diagnosed with advanced cancer (that is cancer that has been described to the person as stage four/ advanced/or metastatic, and is incurable or terminal) 
• You must be residing in New South Wales, Australia 
• You must be able to read and speak English, well enough to understand the study materials. 

 

What would you be asked to do? 

If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to complete two surveys – one at the time you join the study and another three months later. Each survey will take about 30 minutes. You can do the surveys over the phone with a research team member or complete them yourself online or in hard copy format. 

You will receive access to an online information hub and an activity-based booklet (hard copy and electronic version) to work through at your own pace, over a period of 1 month. 

You will be offered support from a health professional (e.g. psychologist, nurse) to help you understand the information and complete the booklet (up to four support calls offered). You will also be given access to an online support group. 

Click to download the Participant Information Statement 

Click to check your eligibility and participate in this study 

If you have any queries, please contact the research team by emailing iact@newcastle.edu.au or call 1800 161 367