An Implementation Study of the CALM Intervention (2020 - 2023)

Update (July, 2022):

Please Note:

• As of July, 2022, recruitment is now closed for the CALM psychological intervention research project.
• For individuals with advanced cancer and their close others (e.g., partner, adult child, family member), CALM counselling will continue to be provided by Dr. Janet de Groot through TBCC Psychosocial Oncology. For more information, please send an email to carly.sears@ucalgary.ca

The developers of the CALM intervention have previously shown its effectiveness through psychotherapy evaluation studies at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Ontario. The Calgary zone has the opportunity to join this global CALM initiative with this study.

The Calgary CALM implementation study will allow researchers and clinicians to better understand:

1. the factors involved in training Calgary and South Zone clinicians to be able to offer CALM therapy sessions;
2. the potential impacts of the CALM intervention on individuals with advanced cancer;
3. the experiences of individuals who are identified as the caregiver or close other of individuals with advanced cancer; and
4. the barriers and facilitators required to develop and sustain the CALM intervention in the Calgary and South Zone regional context.

The therapy is called CALM, which is short for Managing Cancer And Living Meaningfully. CALM was developed to help people manage the challenges of living with cancer, reduce distress and promote psychological well-being. CALM therapy is a brief, semi-structured psychotherapeutic intervention for persons with advanced cancer, who are invited to include an informal caregiver (e.g., spouse, adult son/daughter, family member, close friend) to one or more sessions.

The results of this study will help inform the type of hospital support services that are best for patients with cancer in different parts of the world, including Calgary and the South Zone.

3 Phases of the Study:

1. Implementation:
   • offer CALM counselling appointments to patients in the Calgary and South Zones;
   • train clinicians from Calgary and South Zones in the CALM therapy model.
2. Stakeholder Interviews:
   • conduct interviews with stakeholders to assess local perspectives on the integration of CALM therapy into the context of Southern Alberta cancer care (e.g., barriers and facilitators to implementation).
3. Digital Storytelling Intervention:
   • implement Digital Storytelling intervention for patients and caregivers/close others who previously attended at least one CALM counselling session.