Improving advance care planning in cancer with patient videos and clinician training

Administrative supplement to Improving Advance Care Planning in Oncology: A Pragmatic, Cluster-Randomized Trial Integrating Patient Videosand Clinician Communication Training

NIH-funded research Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11334711

This project offers short video tools for patients and communication training for clinicians to help older adults with advanced cancer talk about care preferences at the end of life.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11334711 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This program gives you short, easy-to-watch videos that show treatment choices and possible outcomes while also training clinicians to have clearer, more compassionate advance care planning conversations. The combined intervention will be rolled out in phases across clinics at three major health systems so each clinic's outcomes before and after the program can be compared. The study is being done in real-world oncology clinics to see if these tools make conversations happen earlier and lead to care that matches patients' wishes. Researchers will track how often advance plans are completed, how comfortable patients and clinicians feel with decisions, and whether care aligns with stated goals.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Older adults (typically 65 and over) with advanced cancer who receive care at participating clinics, along with their oncology clinicians, are the intended participants.

Not a fit: People without advanced cancer, those outside the target age group, or patients treated at nonparticipating health systems are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit directly from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could make it more likely that patients with advanced cancer receive care that matches their values and avoid unwanted aggressive treatments near the end of life.

How similar studies have performed: Components of this approach—patient decision videos and clinician communication training—have shown benefit in smaller randomized trials, but this pragmatic trial tests them together in routine clinics.

Where this research is happening

Boston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Advanced Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.