Small gestures, big impact? study tests kindness and gratitude for cancer patients
NCT ID NCT04810052
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether doing simple positive activities—like performing a kind act or writing a gratitude letter—could improve quality of life for cancer patients from collectivist cultures (e.g., Latino, Asian American, African American). 75 patients and their caregivers participated. The goal was to see if these activities are feasible and might boost emotional well-being.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Behavioral intervention (positive activities: acts of kindness and gratitude letters)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a simple, low-cost way to improve emotional well-being and quality of life for cancer patients from collectivist backgrounds.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small feasibility study with only 75 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The activities are simple and may not produce meaningful changes in well-being.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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75 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2021
- Finished
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Sep 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * PATIENTS: Between 35 -70 years of age * PATIENTS: Within 1-5 years of diagnosis and actively undergoing systemic therapy, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, endocrine and radiation therapies * PATIENTS: Self-identify as ethnically one of the 4 ethnic groups of focus: Asian American, African American, Latino, and European American. For collectivist cultures, will aim to recruit patients of who are first- (i.e., immigrated to United States \[US\]) or second-generation (i.e., children of US residents who immigrated to US) immigrants * PATIENTS: Diagnosed with any type of cancer * PATIENTS: Able to identify a caregiver (e.g., family member) who lives in the same household, and who consents to participate in this study * PATIENTS: Able to read, write, and speak in English * PATIENTS: Access to internet, computer or phone, and web browser * CAREGIVERS: Patient considers them as their caregiver * CAREGIVERS: Lives in the same household as patient * CAREGIVERS: Able to read, write, and speak in English * CAREGIVERS: Access to internet, computer or phone, and web browser * CAREGIVERS: Identifies as the same race/ethnicity group as the patient (e.g., European American wife and European American husband, or Asian American wife and Asian American husband would be pairs that are considered eligible) Exclusion Criteria: * PATIENTS: Life expectancy less than 6 months in the opinion of the primary physician * PATIENTS: Inability to stand and walk on their own or with other physical limitations that preclude them from participating. (3+ on Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group \[ECOG\] performance status) * PATIENTS: Major depression (e.g., as determined by a score of 10 or higher on the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale \[CES-D\] at baseline, out of 30) or diagnosed prior to study (from patient records and/or self-disclosure by patient) * CAREGIVERS: Unwilling or unable to participate in the study for any reason * CAREGIVERS: Under the age of 18
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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M D Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
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