The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate an AI-integrated Emotional Granularity Growth intervention (AI-EGG) designed to enhance resilience and improve quality of life in young and middle-aged colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors. Emotional granularity refers to the ability to clearly identify and differentiate subtle emotional experiences, which may help individuals regulate emotions more effectively and build resilience after cancer treatment.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does the AI-EGG intervention improve resilience in CRC survivors compared with routine psychological care? * Does the intervention improve emotional granularity, emotion regulation ability, and quality of life? * Is the AI-EGG intervention feasible and acceptable for young and middle-aged CRC survivors?
Researchers will compare the AI-EGG intervention group to a control group receiving routine psychological care and standard educational materials to see whether the intervention leads to better psychological outcomes.
Participants will:
* Complete baseline assessments measuring emotional granularity, emotion regulation, resilience, and quality of life * Be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group * In the intervention group, engage in a 4-week AI chatbot-based program focusing on emotional identification, differentiation, regulation, and reflective practice (at least two sessions per week) * In the control group, receive routine psychological care and standard educational materials * Complete post-intervention assessments immediately after the 4-week program and again at a 1-month follow-up * Some participants in the intervention group will be invited to complete interviews about their experience of the program
(1) young and middle-aged adult patients (age in the range of 18-60 years);
(2) patients diagnosed with CRC;
(3) patients have completed primary curative-intent treatment for colorectal cancer, and are currently in a stable post-treatment or maintenance phase of care without evidence of active disease progression or acute treatment-related instability;
(4) patients able to use a smartphone and agree to participate in the study.
(1) patients who have been informed of their cancer diagnosis due to family decision to withhold information;
(2) patients suffering from severe comorbidities or conditions that may affect participation or assessment, such as significant cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia, severe memory loss), psychiatric disorders, or other serious medical complications;
(3) those who are participating in other psychological intervention studies.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Lead sponsor
The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University
Collaborator
Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University
Collaborator
Kunshan First People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University
Collaborator