Onko-STEP

young cancer patients, AYA-survivors, online writing therapy, anxiety symptoms, fear of disease progression, posttraumatic stress symptoms, web-based cognitive-behavioral support program, randomized controlled trial

Scientific study supervision:

PhD Psychologist Kristina Geue (PI until end of April 2022)

Prof. PhD Psychologist Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf (Co-PI  until end of April 2022; PI since May 2022)

University Hospital Leipzig, Department of Medical Psychology und Medical Sociology, Section Psychosocial Oncology

Clinical study supervision:

Prof. MD Jörg Fegert (CO-PI)

Prof. PhD Psychologist Miriam Rassenhofer (deputy)

University Hospital, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy

1. Regional Clinical Cancer Register Leipzig (RKKRL)
2. Clinic Bad Oexen
3. Paracelsus-Klinik Am Schillergarten Bad Elster
4. German Child Cancer Register
5. Prof. PhD Rainer Muche, Ulm University, Medical Faculty, Institute for Epidemiology and Medical Biometry

01.07.2020 – 30.06.2023 (possible extension of 12 months: 1^st July 2023 – 30^th June 2024)

Young cancer patients show a well above average chance of recovery compared to older patients. Young cancer patients’ psychological distress manifests especially as anxiety (primarily posttraumatic stress disorders), fatigue and depression. However, it has been shown during the past years, that specific needs for psychosocial support are either not adequately or not sufficiently met.  It is generally agreed that the conception, implementation, and evaluation of specific psychooncological care concepts are necessary.

However, there are barely any evidence-​based interventions targeting the psychosocial care of AYA-​survivors. The web-​based support program Onko-​STEP, targeting the reduction of anxiety in young cancer patients, was developed and successfully evaluated using a pre-​post-design. Onko-​STEP contains two modules: 1. “Looking back” (focused on traumatic disease experiences) and 2. “Looking forward” (focuses on development of coping strategies to deal with anxiety), with five writing exercises each.

Project description

The project aims to investigate the efficacy of Onko-​Step in a prospective randomized controlled trial, comparing intervention and control group. It is planned to include 172 participants with an increased general anxiety level in the RCT. The participants will be recruited via cancer registries, rehabilitation clinics, after care consultations and established social networks. The data collection will be conducted online via standardized procedures, at 4 measurement time points (t0: screening; t1: baseline – pre study inclusion/intervention; t2: after the intervention/waiting period; t3: follow-​up (3 months after t2)). Requirements for participation are: Fluent in German, current age: 18-39 yrs, cancer diagnosis between 15 and 39 yrs, time of diagnoses within the last 10 yrs, end of primary treatment: at least 6 month and Internet access and willingness to participate weekly. On the basis of a proof of concept we will be able to provide an adequate psychooncological support program for this group of patients after the study will have finished. We plan on creating structures for the firm implementation of Onko-​STEP as a time-​flexible and location-​independent web-​based support program. In doing so we plan on improving the psychosocial care of young adult cancer patients.

Interested people can register on www.onko-step.de