Coping Together

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCTs) were traditionally inpatient procedures due to intensive treatment regimens and a complex recovery process. However, feasibility, cost containment, and quality of life considerations mandated a shift to outpatient settings, requiring more intensive caregiver (CG) involvement. With increasing role demands, CGs faced challenges balancing work, family, and caregiving responsibilities, often with little preparation or support. This led to heightened distress, unmet needs, and coping difficulties among CGs, surpassing those of patients. Existing HSCT literature highlighted the need for supportive interventions to help CGs continue providing care. Recently, self-directed interventions for coping, well-being, and stress management have been found to facilitate coping for both cancer patients and CGs.

Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Map of Adaptation Process, this multi-step, qualitative descriptive study adapted the evidence-informed, self-directed Coping Together (CT) manuals to be acceptable in content, process, and structure to HSCT patients, CGs, and dyads during the first 100 days post-HSCT at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. The study posed three research questions: (a) What were the perceptions of HSCT patients, CGs, dyads, and clinicians about the content, process, and structure of the CT manuals?; (b) What adaptations needed to be made to the CT manuals to make them more acceptable for HSCT patients, CGs, and dyads?; and (c) What were the perceptions/experiences of HSCT patients, CGs, and dyads with the HSCT-modified CT manuals during the first 100 days post-HSCT?

For more information about this study, please contact:

Andrew Durand

Loiselle-research@mcgill.ca

(514) 398-8977