Using patient-reported health updates to improve palliative care for older adults with advanced cancer
Official title: Using electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) monitoring to improve palliative care service delivery for older patients with advanced cancer.
Funded at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic · NIH-11265892 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests whether electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) can help doctors deliver timely palliative care to older adults with advanced cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lebanon, United States) |
| Project start | June 18, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $235,391 |
| NIH project number | 1P20GM161873-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11265892 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with advanced cancer who are in need of palliative care and have access to electronic reporting tools.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing unmet palliative needs or who do not use electronic reporting may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will use electronic check-ins from patients to identify unmet needs and guide when to refer to palliative care. It focuses on older adults with advanced cancer who often experience isolation, depression, and additional caregiving challenges. By standardizing when care teams refer patients for palliative services, the study aims to shorten delays and improve overall care experience. The research will measure feasibility of using ePRO to trigger timely referrals and inform future larger trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may receive more timely and appropriate palliative support, improving quality of life and symptom management.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests ePRO can reflect patient needs and support care decisions, with growing evidence for feasibility in palliative settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
Lebanon, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaufmann, Tara — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
- Study coordinator: Kaufmann, Tara
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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.