LOL: It's All Improv After Cancer! The Impact of Improvisational Comedy on Well-Being Among Patients With Cancer

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Distress, Breast Neoplasms, Quality of Life

In brief

Managing distress and improving well-being is critically important for optimal survivorship care. Treatment of distress leads to better adherence to treatment, better communication, fewer calls and visits to the oncologist's office, and avoidance of development of severe anxiety or depression. Based on national guidelines, distress is typically managed with pharmacologic options (i.e. benzodiazepines), support groups, individual counseling, or chaplaincy services. To our knowledge, the role of a structured improvisational comedy (improv) program in reducing distress and improving well-being has never been evaluated in the oncology setting.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT02892006
Run by: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
People needed: 20
Starts: 2016-11-30
Expected to finish: 2017-12-20
Last updated by the study team: 2018-09-07

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Female, diagnosed with breast cancer stage 1-3 (no distant metastases)
Completed cancer treatment (including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biologic treatment, and/or any combination) at least 1 month (30 days) from their last treatment and no more than 12 months (365 days) post-treatment. Long term hormonal/biologic treatments are ok.
Female age ≥ 18
Scores a at least 4/10 (≥4) on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer
Agrees to complete study surveys
Agrees to attend 6 improv classes
English speaking
Emotionally stable (per physician clearance) to participate in this series

Where it is running

Cedars Sinai Medical Center — Los Angeles, California, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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