Mind Over Matter for Black and African American Women: A Single Arm Trial Examining Feasibility and Acceptability of a Supportive Intervention

Up to half of patients affected by cancer will experience psychosocial distress. Emotional and physical symptoms are two common facets of psychosocial distress. For those managing cancer, unmet psychosocial needs can lead to lower quality of life, poorer adherence to medical treatments, and increased healthcare costs. In a recent study investigating White, African American, Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islander patients, it was found that African American patients were significantly more likely to experience clinical levels of psychosocial distress.

Inova Life with Cancer® has developed Mind Over Matter (MOM), a group psychosocial program designed to teach emotional coping skills to anyone affected by cancer. Each session introduces a core cognitive concept and a different relaxation exercise. These sessions are structured and educational, with a focus on building skills, and are not a therapy or a support group.

A retrospective secondary data analysis of the MOM intervention found a significant decrease in anxiety, depression, physical symptom severity, and physical symptom interference from pre- to post-test.

The goal of this study is to learn if the Mind Over Matter (MOM) Intervention, a 5-week group program, can help Black and African American women deal with the fears, worries and sadness that often accompany cancer diagnosis and treatment. The main question this study aims to answer is:

• Whether the MOM Intervention is feasible and acceptable among Black and African American women.

We would also like to find out if:

• The MOM Intervention decreases anxiety, depression and physical symptom severity for Black and African American women.
• The MOM Intervention is culturally and linguistically appropriate, and identify barriers, strengths, and areas of improvement.

Please note, this entire Intervention will be offered online. There will be no in-person sessions or visits.

For more information, please visit https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06168825

Study Website: https://www.lifewithcancer.org/mind-over-matter-for-black-african-american-women/

Results from the Retrospective Secondary Data Analysis of Mom:

Michelle Ferretti , Kimberly Lowery Walker , Jennifer Bires & Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc (2023) Building coping skills to relieve distress and physical symptoms: Findings from a quality improvement project of a five-week group psychoeducational program for cancer patients, Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2023.2238263

Inova Life with Cancer

8411 Pennell Street

Fairfax, Virginia 22031

Howard University Cancer Center

2041 Georgia Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20060

Please note, this entire Intervention will be offered online. There will be no in-person sessions or visits.

• Self-identify as Black or African American
• Self-identify as female or a woman
• Having received a diagnosis and treatment for any type of cancer
• Having completed primary treatment (completed chemotherapy and/or radiation and/or surgery)
• ≥18 years of age
• Able to understand and provide valid informed consent prior to any study procedure
• Access to the internet and email
• Being able to speak and understand written and spoken English

• Self-identify as other than Black or African American
• Does not Self-identify as a female or a woman
• Does not have a diagnosis of cancer
• Has not completed primary treatment
• Under the age of 18
• Not able to understand and provide valid informed consent
• Does not have access to the internet or email
• Not being able to speak, read and understand English