Onco-STEP

young cancer patients, AYA-Survivor, online writing therapy, anxiety symptoms, progressive anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms, cognitive-behavioural, web-based support service, randomised controlled trial

Scientific study management:

Dr rer. med. Dipl.-Psych. Kristina Geue (PI until the end of April 2022)

Prof. Dr phil. Dipl.-Psych. Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf (Co-PI until the end of April 2022; PI from May 2022)

Leipzig University Hospital, Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Division of Psychosocial Oncology

Clinical study management:

Prof Dr Jörg Fegert (CO-PI)

Prof Dr Miriam Rassenhofer (as deputy)

Ulm University Hospital, Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy

1. Regional Clinical Cancer Registry Leipzig (RKKRL)
2. Clinic Bad Oexen
3. Paracelsus Clinic Am Schillergarten Bad Elster
4. German Paediatric Cancer Registry
5. Prof Dr Rainer Muche, University of Ulm, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry

01.07.2020 - 30.06.2023 (possible extension by 12 months 01.07.2023 - 30.06.2024)

Young cancer patients have an above-average chance of recovery compared to older patients. The psychological burden of young adults with cancer is particularly evident in the form of anxiety (especially post-traumatic stress disorder), fatigue and depression. Specific support needs have also been identified in recent years, but these have not been met adequately or at all. There is a consensus on the need to design, implement and evaluate specific psycho-oncological care concepts for this patient group. However, to date there are hardly any evidence-based interventions for the psychosocial care of AYA survivors. As part of a pilot study, the web-based support programme Onko-STEP was developed to reduce anxiety in young cancer patients and successfully evaluated in a pre-post design. Onko-STEP contains two modules (1. "Looking back" focussing on traumatic illness experiences; 2. "Looking forward" developing coping strategies for dealing with anxiety), each with five writing tasks.

The aim is to prove the effectiveness of Onko-STEP by means of a prospective randomised controlled study. The support programme is aimed at people between the ages of 18 and 39 who have been diagnosed with cancer in adolescence and young adulthood (15-39 years). Prerequisites for participation in the study are the presence of a cancer diagnosis within the last 10 years and the completion of primary medical treatment for at least six months. Furthermore, internet access should be available for the duration of the study and the participant should demonstrate a willingness to work on writing tasks on a weekly basis. A total of 172 patients (intervention vs. control group) with increased anxiety are to be included in the study. The study includes 4 measurement points (t0: screening; t1: baseline - before study inclusion/intervention; t2: after completion of the intervention/waiting period; t3: follow-up (3 months after t2). Patients are recruited via cancer registries, rehabilitation clinics, follow-up consultations and established social networks. The survey is conducted online using standardised procedures. At the end of the study, an adequate psycho-oncological care programme for this patient group will be available, based on proof of efficacy. The creation of structures for the permanent implementation of Onko-STEP as an economical and location-independent web-based support service is planned. In the long term, this should contribute to improving the psychosocial care of young adult cancer patients.