Improving end-of-life cancer care for Black patients through spiritual support
Official title: Pilot Trial of a "Divine Intervention" to Improve End-of-Life Cancer Care for Black Patients
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-10911324 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how having healthcare chaplains support Black patients with advanced cancer can help them feel more at peace and make better decisions about their care as they near the end of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 21, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $209,101 |
| NIH project number | 5R21MD017652-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10911324 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Black patients with advanced cancer who value spiritual support in their care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not identify with or value spiritual care may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how integrating healthcare chaplains into the care of advanced cancer patients can enhance their spiritual needs and improve end-of-life decision-making. It focuses on Black patients, who often rely on spirituality to cope with cancer, and aims to provide them with the support they need in outpatient settings. By facilitating conversations about advance care planning and spiritual care, the project seeks to improve the quality of life for these patients as they approach the end of life. The study will assess the impact of chaplain visits on patients' acceptance of their illness and their completion of advance directives.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved quality of life and more personalized end-of-life care for Black cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest that similar approaches have shown positive outcomes, particularly in inpatient settings, but this specific integration in outpatient care is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maciejewski, Paul K — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Maciejewski, Paul K
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.