# Determining the Feasibility of Virtual Tailored, Music-Based Relaxation for Anxiety Among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors.

> **NIH NIH R34** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2024 · $300,924

## Abstract

Clinical Problem: Up to 48.5% of adolescent and young adult (AYA, 15 – 39 years old) cancer survivors
experience clinically relevant anxiety. Anxiety disrupts the successful achievement of normative developmental
tasks and is associated with fear of cancer recurrence and decreased quality of life. Cognitive behavioral
therapy is a guideline-based recommendation for anxiety, but only 40% of AYAs seek out such treatments, and
stigma regarding psychotherapy is high, particularly among individuals of diverse backgrounds.
Overall Objective: Music-based interventions offer an evidence-based treatment for anxiety in adults with
cancer. Despite the growth of studies, approximately 8% of trials have included AYA/pediatric cancer patients.
The overall objective is to determine the feasibility of conducting an eight-week, (45 min/week), virtually-
delivered, tailored music-based relaxation (TiMBRe) intervention to decrease anxiety in AYA cancer survivors.
TiMBRe uses tailored music experiences, delivered by a board-certified music therapist, to develop greater
self-awareness and use of music-based relaxation to increase self-efficacy to cope and manage anxiety.
Need for Planning Study: The primary aim of our future, phase II, multicenter randomized controlled trial is to
determine the efficacy of a virtual, TiMBRe intervention to reduce anxiety in AYA cancer survivors with
clinically relevant anxiety. Our preliminary data (N=37) demonstrate that the implementation of a four-session
(45 min each), virtual TiMBRe intervention for AYAs with cancer is feasible and well accepted by AYAs, with a
majority (13/21, [67%]) of AYAs with anxiety reporting clinically significant changes in their anxiety pre-to post-
intervention. However, we must first address several planning issues that will prepare the protocol for
successful implementation and completion in a randomized controlled trial.
R34 Specific Aims: The primary aim is to determine the feasibility of implementing a randomized controlled
trial of an eight-week, virtual, TiMBRe intervention in post-treatment AYA cancer survivors with clinically
relevant anxiety. Secondarily, we will determine the credibility of an attention control condition for virtual
TiMBRe and develop fidelity measures to ensure standardized delivery of virtual TiMBRe across therapists.
Methods: Using an explanatory-sequential mixed methods design, we will first randomize 50 AYA cancer
survivors with clinically relevant anxiety from the University of Michigan to the eight-week TiMBRe intervention
or attention-control (i.e., study staff calls + cancer survivorship resources). Participants will complete patient-
reported outcome measures (e.g., PROMIS Anxiety 4a) at baseline, four, eight, and twenty weeks. TiMBRe
group participants will participate in semi-structured interviews to evaluate intervention acceptability.
Expected Outcomes: The expected outcome is the demonstration that virtual TiMBRe intervention delivery is
feasible within a rand...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10952065
- **Project number:** 1R34CA286712-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert James Knoerl
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $300,924
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-16 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10952065

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10952065, Determining the Feasibility of Virtual Tailored, Music-Based Relaxation for Anxiety Among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors. (1R34CA286712-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10952065. Licensed CC0.

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