What's Happening Now?
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The Mindset Study has concluded.​​​
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Study findings are now available.
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Please email us with any questions here. ​​​
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Read our press announcement here
Thank you for your interest in The Mindset and Metastatic Cancer Research Study!
Our study has concluded. Females living with advanced cancer participated in our Mindset & Metastatic Cancer Research Study. Participants joined the study from 24 states and 10 countries.
Study findings will be released in February, 2022.
BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPANTS
There are many positive outcomes possible for study participants:
Create an individualized self-care program on the award-winning Neolth platform with effective strategies & practices from diverse experts including ComedyCures
Reduce perceived stress, help manage anxiety and/or depression
Elevate mindset/mood, gain a positive outlook and increased energy
Learn techniques to increase joy and laughter
Help further research to improve the quality of life and health outcomes for women living with metastatic cancer
Have more fun for 8 weeks!
What is the purpose of this study?
Living with cancer can be stressful. Just as we prioritize physical health, people living with cancer should also receive stress and mental health support services, if desired. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a digital health solution and fun stress management and relaxation techniques on the perceived stress of women living with metastatic cancer.
Study Details
This 8-week voluntary mindset study offers each participant a personalized digital health experience by utilizing a complimentary subscription to the Neolth platform with practices that include:
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ComedyCures Foundation tips, practices & funny content
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Self-guided relaxation and self-care activities, personalized just for you
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On-demand videos to improve mental health (videos are 2 - 15 minutes each)
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An easy method to monitor your most effective practices and how they impact your stress and health
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Live Zoom Sessions w/Saranne. Three optional 30-minute sessions will be offered during the study:
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Live Virtual Comedy Kick-off, Q&A, Prize Drawing
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Live Virtual Interim Workshop, Q&A, Prize Drawing
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Live Virtual Closing Celebration: Comedy, Prize Drawing & Thank You
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Over the course of this study, you’ll be asked to use the Neolth platform each week on your mobile device, tablet and/or desktop with a minimal time commitment. You will also be asked to complete 3 quick online surveys (15 minutes each) during the 8 weeks. Please see our FAQ’s for more information.
The Process
Eligibility Surveys To Be Submitted:
Women living with metastatic cancer who are interested in volunteering for the 8-week Mindset Study are asked to complete the brief eligibility survey and provide their contact information.
Participants Selected and Contacted on a Rolling Admission:
The first 50 eligible women will receive an email from The ComedyCures Foundation indicating they’ve been selected to participate and will be asked to confirm their agreement to voluntarily participate. If more than 50 women are eligible, ComedyCures will randomly select participants in a blinded process. Enrollment into the study will occur on a rolling basis as those selected agree to participate in the study.
Baseline Study (September - October):
Participants who are selected and confirm their interest will receive an email from HumorBuddy@ComedyCures.org with a link to complete the baseline survey (~15 minutes).
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Note that the baseline survey must be completed by the eligible participant before signing into her complimentary subscription to the Neolth digital platform.
The 8-Week Schedule
Week 1 (September, 2021):
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Complete the Baseline Program Survey (15 minutes) and create a Neolth account (free access will be provided)
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Complete two self-guided relaxation practices on the Neolth digital platform
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Watch one on-demand video on the Neolth digital platform
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Live Virtual Comedy Kick-off, Q&A, Prize Drawing (optional)
Weeks 2 & 3:
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Complete two relaxation practices and one on-demand video on the Neolth digital platform each week
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Participants will be sent email reminders about engagement
Week 4:
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Complete two relaxation practices and one on-demand video on Neolth
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Mid-way Program Survey (10 minutes) to be completed at the end of week 4
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Live Virtual Workshop, Q&A, Prize Drawing (optional)
Weeks 5, 6 & 7:
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Complete two relaxation practices and one on-demand video on the Neolth digital platform
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Participants will be sent email reminders about engagement
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Week 8:
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Complete two relaxation practices and one on-demand video on the Neolth digital platform
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Post-Study Program Survey (10 minutes) to be completed at the end of week 8
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Live Virtual Closing Celebration: Comedy, Prize Drawing & Thank You (optional)
The Women Behind The Study
The Mindset and Metastatic Cancer Research Study has been created by Saranne Rothberg, a stage IV cancer survivor and founder of The ComedyCures Foundation, in collaboration with Dr. Katherine Grill, PhD and Dr. Claire Wheeler, MD, PhD of Neolth, a digital mental health platform. This study has been made possible by a grant from The Willow Foundation, founded by cancer survivor Leah Evert and Janine Klein.
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ComedyCures Support team
Clinical Nurse: Ilene Lasky Klein RN, MSN
Survivor Liaison: Sara Jakob
Study Coordinator: Grace Lee
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If you have any emergent issues, please dial 911 or the National Suicide Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) which are available 24/7.
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Who is eligible for this study?You must be 18 years or older and a female. You must currently have a diagnosis of metastatic cancer. Metastatic is defined as cancer that has spread to another part of your body from the initial cancer site. You can participate whether or not you are currently receiving treatment. You must have access to a smartphone, computer and/or tablet that you can use to access the Neolth program. Desktop and mobile app (iPhone and Android) versions of Neolth are available. You must be willing to participate in the full research study, which includes using the Neolth program for 8 consecutive weeks and completing online surveys at the beginning, middle and end of the study.
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What is the purpose of this study?Living with cancer can be stressful. Just as we prioritize physical health, people living with cancer should also receive stress and mental health support services, if desired. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a digital health solution on the perceived stress of women living with metastatic cancer.
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When does this study start and end?Eligible participants will be notified of acceptance on a rolling basis, beginning in late August, 2011. All participants will be a part of the study for a total of 8 weeks.
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Is this study virtual?Yes! This study is completely virtual. You can use Neolth from any device and any location. The study surveys will be sent via email.
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Who is organizing this research study?The study has been created by Saranne Rothberg, a stage IV cancer survivor and Founder of The ComedyCures Foundation, in collaboration with Dr. Katherine Grill, PhD and Dr. Claire Wheeler, MD, PhD of Neolth. The study’s funding has been provided by The Willow Foundation, founded by cancer survivor Leah Evert and Janine Klein.
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What is Neolth?Neolth provides stress and mental health support by delivering on-demand, personalized care via their self-guided platform. People who use Neolth have access to: Personalized relaxation practices Self-care and health tracking On-demand videos about mental health Livestream events ComedyCures content And more! The app is completely confidential and recommends content personalized for your needs. You can download Neolth on the iOS or Android app stores. It's also available for desktop at cloud.neolth.com. All study participants will be given free access to Neolth.
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How much time per week do I need to spend using Neolth?We ask that study participants do the following each week on Neolth: Complete at least two self-guided relaxation practices each week. You will receive a set of 5 personalized relaxation practices on Neolth each month. You can choose which practices to use during the study. Practices range in length from 2 - 20 minutes. Watch at least one on-demand video each week. The Community section on Neolth has a library of on-demand videos about mental health. You can choose which video to watch each week. Videos range in length from 2 - 15 minutes. We will offer (3) optional LIVE 20-minute Zoom/ Call-in sessions with stage IV cancer survivor and CEO of The ComedyCures Foundation, Saranne Rothberg, at the beginning, middle, and end of the study. Please feel free to use this optional time to ask any and all questions, and/or to just share a laugh.
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How do the study surveys work?If you are selected for this study, we will send you a link to a baseline survey by email. The survey includes demographic questions, for a brief medical history, and a few questions about stress and mental health. It should take ~15 minutes to complete. You’ll receive shorter surveys to complete at the mid-way and end points of the study. These surveys will ask the same questions about stress and mental health. We ask for this information more than once so we can best discover how using Neolth and being part of this study is affecting you. The mid-way and post-study surveys should each take ~10 minutes to complete. It’s very important that you make time to complete these assessments so we can get the most complete picture of the benefits of this type of support. While individual responses are confidential, aggregate de-identified study data will be presented about the findings. All data will be stored in a secure location accessible only to the researcher(s).
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How do I sign up for this study?All interested individuals must complete our brief eiligibility survey. A total of 50 women will be randomly selected to participate. We will contact individuals by email who have been selected to participate in the study.
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What will I receive?If you are eligible, selected and volunteer to participate, you will receive 8 weeks of a complimentary subscription to the Neolth digital platform. If you complete the entire study and 3 surveys, you will receive an additional complimentary 8 extra weeks to explore and enjoy your Neolth subscription. (Your complimentary Neolth subscription is not transferable.) You will also be eligible to win prizes if you attend any of the optional live Zoom sessions with Saranne. There is no cash compensation for participating in this voluntary study.
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Who should I contact if I have other questions?Contact Study Coordinator Natalie Drelles with any questions at HumorBuddy@ComedyCures.org
If you have any emergent issues, please dial 911 or the National Suicide Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) which are available 24/7. 24/7 FREE crisis resources are available through the Neolth platform. Go to your profile and click Crisis Resource Survey to get a list of free resources you can use. We’re a 501(C)3 non-profit organization.