FOCUSau

Living with advanced cancer can be challenging for both the person with cancer and their family carer (usually a family member or close friend). We are recruiting people who are living with advanced cancer and their family carers to take part in a study evaluating an online support program called FOCUSau that aims to improve their wellbeing and quality of life.

• What is the FOCUSau program?

  The FOCUSau program is made up of four guided sessions that the person living with advanced cancer and their family carer will work through together over three months.

  The sessions are designed to enhance emotional wellbeing and quality of life by helping with:

  • Family involvement (communicating and managing relationships with family and friends)
  • Outlook (preparing for the future)
  • Coping (learning to manage difficult circumstances)
  • Uncertainty (dealing with change)
  • Symptoms (learning to manage symptoms and side effects of cancer and its treatments)

  The sessions can be completed anywhere, using a desktop, laptop or a tablet device with internet access.

• Will everyone in the research study get access to the FOCUSau program?

  This study will compare people who complete the FOCUSau sessions with people who do not get the program. Whether or not you receive the FOCUSau program will be randomly decided, like a coin toss. Both groups will continue to receive the usual care from their health care team.

  Everyone who takes part in the study will fill in surveys at the beginning and at the end of the study. We will compare responses from those who completed the FOCUSau program and those who didn't to see if using the FOCUSau program improves people's wellbeing and quality of life.

• What do I need to take part?

  You can take part in the study if you:

  • Have advanced cancer (cancer that has progressed or returned)
  • Are 18 years or older
  • Have a support person involved in your care (family member or close friend) who is willing to take part in the study with you
  • Have regular access to a computer or tablet with an internet connection
  • Can read and understand English
• How can I get involved in this research or find out more about it?

  If you are interested in finding out more about this research study, please click on the ‘Get involved’ tab above and fill in a short form including details on how we can get in touch with you. A member of our research team will contact you to explain more about the study and to help you with the next steps if you are still interested in taking part.