Feasibility of Incorporating a Standardized Substance Use Measure With Linked-Brief Intervention Into Routine Psychosocial Care of Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors

Summary

The ASSIST Study is designed to explore whether a brief, evidence based substance use screening and counseling approach can be easily integrated into routine survivorship care at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

During a regularly scheduled psychosocial visit, participants complete the World Health Organization's Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). This short questionnaire helps identify patterns of use related to tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, prescription medications, and other substances. Survivors whose results show possible risk receive a brief, supportive counseling session during the same appointment. This session uses motivational interviewing techniques to help individuals reflect on their use and consider steps to reduce potential harm.

Primary Objective:

\- Assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a standardized assessment of substance use and brief substance use reduction intervention in survivorship clinical settings.

Secondary Objective:

\- Evaluate the reliability of delivering a brief substance use intervention to reduce substance use behaviors among Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer (ASCC) followed in the (ACT) Clinic.

Conditions

• Survivors of Childhood Cancer
• Substance Use

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

WHO ASSIST v3.1 Screening with Feedback

An 8 item clinician administered instrument assessing lifetime and recent (past 3 months) use across substance classes (tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine type stimulants, sedatives/sleeping pills, hallucinogens, inhalants, opioids, and other drugs).Risk scores wiil be produced to guide intervention level. The assessment will be administered orally during a routine psychosocial visit by an LCSW. In the experimental arm, risk feedback will be shared using a scorecard

BEHAVIORAL

ASSIST Linked Brief Intervention (10 Step Motivational interviewing (MI)/FRAMES)

For participants screening moderate/high risk in the experimental arm, a same session, brief intervention consistent with motivational interviewing and FRAMES is delivered by an LCSW. Ten steps include: purpose of discussion, feedback on scores, information/advice, emphasize responsibility, express concern/support, explore "good things," explore "less good things," summarize, explore readiness/next steps with goal setting if ready, and provide self help materials. Sessions will be audio recorded for fidelity review.

BEHAVIORAL

WHO ASSIST v3.1 Screening (No Feedback)

An 8 item clinician administered instrument assessing lifetime and recent (past 3 months) use across substance classes (tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine type stimulants, sedatives/sleeping pills, hallucinogens, inhalants, opioids, and other drugs).Risk scores wiil be produced to guide intervention level. The assessment will be administered orally during a routine psychosocial visit by an LCSW. In the control arm, no scorecard/feedback will be provided.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Rachel Webster, PhD · St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-05-31

Primary Completion

2027-10-31

Completion

2028-10-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations