Harnessing Adaptive Body Mindsets to Improve Outcomes in Childhood Cancer Survivors (EMBody)

Research summary

Survivors of childhood cancer experience impaired health-related quality of life, psychological distress, and pain. A previously developed body mindset intervention has improved health-related quality of life and symptom distress in adult cancer patients. In the current research, we will examine whether a body mindset intervention can instil adaptive body mindsets, boost resilience, and improve physical and psychological functioning in survivors of childhood cancer. Survivors of childhood cancer will be randomised to the body mindset intervention or an active attention control group. The body mindset intervention aims to instil adaptive mindsets that the child’s body is resilient, working with them rather than against them, and is capable of healing after cancer treatment and that an experience of cancer can be an opportunity. Participants receiving the body mindset intervention will complete three modules over six-weeks consisting of short films and reflection exercises to guide participants to more adaptive body mindsets. Participants in this group will also complete a range of questionnaires at baseline, weeks two, four, and six, and at a 10-week and 3-month follow-up. Participants in the active attention control group complete the same questionnaires at baseline, weeks two, four, and six, and at a 10-week and 3-month follow-up. Therefore, the purpose of the active attention control group is to control for completing online surveys and engaging with the research team to receive surveys. Survivors of childhood cancer aged 16-25 will be recruited from The Royal Marsden Hospital, University College London Hospital (UCLH), and University Hospital Southampton (UHS). Clinicians at the hospitals will screen medical records and contact those who are eligible to provide information about the study. Overall, we predict that the body mindset intervention will increase adaptive body mindsets, reduce maladaptive body mindsets, and improve health-related quality of life, resilience, psychological and physical functioning compared to the active attention control group.

Principal Investigator

Dr Amy Mitchell

Contact us

Email: rhiannon.collins@ouh.nhs.uk

IRAS number

324319