Helping advanced cancer patients and their families plan for future care
Official title: Facilitating Advance Care Planning Discussions Between Patients with Advanced Cancer and Their Family Caregivers Using a Resilience-Building Intervention
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-10896360 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a friendly online program to help people with advanced cancer and their family caregivers feel stronger and more confident in making important medical decisions together.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $114,830 |
| NIH project number | 5K99NR020358-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10896360 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents and young adults diagnosed with advanced cancer and their family caregivers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not dealing with advanced cancer or do not have family caregivers may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to create and evaluate a web-based program designed to enhance resilience among patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers. The program focuses on facilitating advance care planning (ACP), which helps patients and families make informed decisions about future medical care based on their values and goals. By improving communication and coping strategies, the intervention seeks to reduce anxiety and emotional burdens associated with decision-making. Participants will engage in activities that empower them to better understand and navigate the complexities of ACP.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved decision-making and satisfaction with end-of-life care for patients and their families.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that resilience-building interventions can effectively reduce distress in adolescents and young adults with cancer, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Longcoy, Li-Ting Huang — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Longcoy, Li-Ting Huang
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Helping Advanced Cancer Patients and Families Plan Ahead with a Resilience-Building Web Program
A web-based resilience program is being tested to help people with advanced cancer and their family caregivers have meaningful conversations and complete advance directives.
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Web program to help people with advanced cancer and their caregivers talk about future medical wishes
This project tries a web-based resilience program to help adults with advanced cancer and their family caregivers talk about future care and complete advance directives.
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Understanding and improving support for male dementia caregivers
This project focuses on what helps or hinders men who care for people with dementia, with new ideas to reach and support them better.
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Paths to resilience through social networks for older adults with advanced cancer
This grant looks at how the people and relationships around older adults with advanced cancer help shape their health choices and use of care near the end of life.
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Psycho-Spiritual Support for Patients with Advanced Cancer and Their Family Caregivers
A program tests a four-session, family-focused meditation delivered by video to help people with advanced cancer and their caregivers feel less depressive and spiritually distressed.
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Caregivers and Patients Support for Advanced Cancer
A doctor-in-training is developing a telehealth five-session program to help patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers manage their psychosocial needs and quality of life.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.