Cancer Care Companion communication tool for parents
Official title: A Pilot Study of Cancer Care Companion, An Electronic Health Record Tool to Improve Information Exchange and Self-Management in Pediatric Cancer
Run by Washington University School of Medicine · NCT07278778 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Parents of children newly diagnosed with cancer can try an electronic health-record communication tool called Cancer Care Companion to see if it is acceptable, appropriate, and feasible for supporting care.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Washington University School of Medicine Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (St Louis, Missouri) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 4, 2026 |
| Main results expected | August 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | August 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | February 6, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07278778 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal participants are English-speaking legal guardians of children diagnosed with cancer within the past four weeks who plan to receive or are receiving cancer-directed therapy at St. Louis Children's Hospital, have internet access, and agree to enroll in an Epic MyChart proxy.
✕Probably not a fit
Families without reliable internet access, non-English speakers, those unwilling to use Epic MyChart, or those whose children are not treated at St. Louis Children's Hospital are unlikely to benefit from this local EHR-based intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
High-quality communication between clinicians and parents is essential for pediatric cancer care. Parents will receive three months of access to an EHR-based tool called Cancer Care Companion via an Epic MyChart proxy account. Participants complete validated surveys before and after the intervention and take part in a semi-structured interview after the access period to capture acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. Clinicians from leukemia/lymphoma, brain tumor, and solid tumor teams at Saint Louis Children's Hospital/Washington University may also enroll to represent clinical perspectives.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could streamline parent–clinician communication through the medical record, reducing missed information and easing care coordination.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work on patient portals and EHR-linked communication tools in pediatric and adult oncology has shown improved communication and feasibility in many settings, though results vary and direct evidence in newly diagnosed pediatric cancer parents is limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Eligibility Criteria for Parents: Parents of children with cancer will be enrolled if they meet the following criteria: * They are a legal guardian of a child diagnosed with cancer in the prior 4 weeks. * The child plans to receive or currently receives cancer directed therapy at St. Louis Children's Hospital. * The parent or legal guardian has access to internet through a computer or smart phone. * Speaks and reads in English * The parent or legal guardian agrees to enroll in Epic MyChart to access a proxy portal for their child. Eligibility Criteria for Clinicians: * Clinicians with patients who have parents participating may be enrolled. Clinician participants will be employed at SLCH or Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM). The clinicians will include physicians, nurse practitioners, and nurse coordinators from the leukemia/lymphoma, brain tumor, and solid tumor teams in order to represent the breadth of pediatric cancer diagnoses.
Where it's running
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Washington University School of Medicine/Saint Louis Children's Hospital
St Louis, Missouri, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Bryan A Sisk, MD, MSCI — Washington University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Bryan A Sisk, MD, MSCI
- Email: siskb@wustl.edu
- Phone: 314-273-9084
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.