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Health Communication in Families
[Protocol 03-088]
- Full Title :
- HEALTH COMMUNICATION IN FAMILIES
- Purpose :
With the advent of genetic testing, families have recently become a more central focus in cancer prevention. Since many families share similar health behaviors, there is interest in developing family-wide behavior change interventions to reduce cancer risk.
A cancer diagnosis represents a "teachable moment," in which a diagnosis may prompt changes in health behaviors. Although this phenomenon has been observed among cancer survivors, it has not been examined among a patient's family members. Several critical questions exist about how families understand and communicate cancer risk, and what family processes facilitate or impede changes in health behavior.
The goal of this research study is to develop a plan to help patients diagnosed with cancer talk about cancer risk with their family members. Researchers also want to understand how families talk with each other about cancer prevention.
In this study, for each pair of participants (a patient with lung cancer or melanoma and his/her family member), researchers conduct three interviews: an individual interview with the patient, an individual interview with the family member, and a joint interview with the patient and family member at the same time. Researchers transcribe what is said during these interviews and discussions so the information can be used to help guide discussions between family members when someone is diagnosed with cancer.
- Eligibility :
Participants in this study include patients diagnosed with lung cancer in the previous 3-18 months who are smokers, as well as a participating family member (spouse, sibling, or adult child) who is a smoker. Participants also include patients diagnosed with melanoma during the previous 3-18 months, as well as one of their adult children.
For more information about this study, please contact Dr. Jennifer Hay at 646-888-0039.
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