Expressive Disclosure and Colorectal Cancer

This is a Two-part Pilot Study: Part 1 is descriptive and Part 2 is a pilot randomized trial.
Part 1 will be a formative study in which individual interviews are conducted with 20 patients previously diagnosed with colorectal cancer. During open-ended interviews, researchers will collect data on QOL issues colorectal cancer patients face and will elicit feedback regarding development of and participation in a pilot expressive disclosure intervention. Patients also will pilot test an assessment procedures including completing the written questionnaires and wearing the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR).
Part 2 will include a small randomized pilot test in which 44 patients (two cohorts of 22 patients) will be randomly assigned to the Expressive Disclosure Group Program or a Standard Care Control Group.
Aims of the study include:
* To conduct a descriptive study of colorectal cancer patients, through qualitative interviews and standardized questionnaires, in an effort to assess their QOL, specific health and emotional problems, issues related to social functioning, and preferences regarding intervention format and logistics.
* To use the information from the descriptive study to develop an Expressive Disclosure Group Program for colorectal cancer patients.
* To pilot test a novel technology called the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR) for assessing cognitive processing and social support in colorectal cancer patients and compare these data to those obtained with traditional self-report measures.
* To pilot test the Expressive Disclosure Group Program and conduct process evaluation including rates of recruitment and retention, attendance, satisfaction, barriers to participation, and feasibility of randomization.
* To explore the effects of the Expressive Disclosure Group Program on outcome variables of QOL and psychological functioning and mediating variables of cognitive processing, coping skills, and social support.