Interactive visual aid to support stopping cancer treatment decisions in advanced cancer
Official title: Developing and Testing an Interactive Visual Aid for Approaching Decision Making to Stop Cancer Treatment in Advanced Cancer
Funded at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic · NIH-11371154 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mentored clinician-researcher will develop and test an interactive visual tool to help patients with advanced cancer, their caregivers, and clinicians communicate about stopping treatment in a way that respects patient values and reduces uncertainty.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lebanon, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $257,413 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA286746-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371154 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with advanced cancer and their caregivers or family members who participate in outpatient visits.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to oncology or palliative care teams or those not involved in end-of-life decision discussions may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a patient-friendly visual aid to guide conversations about stopping cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation. It involves designing the tool with input from patients, caregivers, and clinicians, and testing how well it improves communication and emotional support during visits. The focus is on advancing care that aligns with patient goals and reduces confusion about prognosis and treatment options. The K08 program provides mentorship to build the researcher’s skills in health services and communication research so this work can inform future clinical practice.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could help patients and families have clearer, more compassionate discussions with clinicians and make treatment decisions that align with patient preferences.
How similar studies have gone: Past approaches have had limited success; this project tests a novel interactive visual approach aimed at improving communication and emotional support.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
Lebanon, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wasp, Garrett T — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
- Study coordinator: Wasp, Garrett T
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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.