Chaplain-clinician PEACE spiritual care for people with advanced cancer
A Chaplain-clinician Led Spiritual Care (PEACE) Intervention on Spiritual/Religious Beliefs Related to Medical Care in Patients With Advanced Cancer: a Pilot Clinical Trial
This pilot will try a chaplain-clinician spiritual care program (PEACE) to see if it is feasible, acceptable, and can change how people with advanced cancer let their religious beliefs influence medical decisions.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Houston, Texas) |
| Trial ID | NCT07246954 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This single-center pilot uses a chaplain-clinician delivered PEACE intervention (Perception, Exploring, Addressing, Compassionate Connection, Embracing) in patients with advanced cancer seen by the supportive/palliative care mobile team at MD Anderson. Phase 1 examines feasibility (≥70% participation in all sessions) and acceptability (≥70% satisfied and ≥70% would recommend) in a single-arm cohort. Phase 2 examines within-group change on a key Religious Beliefs in End-of-Life Medical Care (RBEC) item about accepting every possible medical treatment for faith reasons, comparing PEACE participants and usual care over a short follow-up (baseline to ~2 days post-intervention). Eligible participants are English-speaking adults with advanced cancer, Karnofsky performance status ≥30%, intact cognition, and who endorse religious beliefs that influence treatment decisions.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking adults with locally advanced, metastatic, recurrent, or incurable cancer seen by MD Anderson's supportive/palliative care mobile team who report that their faith strongly influences their willingness to accept medical treatments and have KPS ≥30% and intact cognition.
Not a fit: Patients unlikely to benefit include those without spiritual/religious concerns affecting care, non-English speakers, those with significant cognitive impairment, or those too ill to participate (very low performance status).
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the PEACE intervention could help patients feel more supported and less conflicted about medical decisions by aligning care with their spiritual and religious values.
How similar studies have performed: Prior chaplain- and spiritual-care interventions in palliative settings have shown some benefits for spiritual well-being and coping, but the specific chaplain-clinician PEACE model is novel and not yet extensively tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Eligibility Criteria 1. Participants with advanced cancer (locally advanced, metastatic, recurrent, or incurable) seen by the participant supportive/palliative care mobile team at MD Anderson Cancer Center. 2. Respond "somewhat to A great deal" to the question in the RBEC questionnaire "I will accept every possible medical treatment because my faith tells me to do everything I can to stay alive longer". 3. Participant s aged 18 years or over. 4. Karnofsky performance status ≥30% at time of inclusion into study. 5. Normal cognitive status as determined by the supportive care clinicians based on the ability to understand the nature of the study and consent process. 6. Only English-speaking, as determined by their ability to understand the informed consent, the intervention, and the assessment tools.
Where this trial is running
Houston, Texas
- MD Anderson Cancer Center — Houston, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Marvin Delgado Guay, MD — M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Marvin Delgado Guay, MD
- Email: marvin.delgado@mdanderson.org
- Phone: 713-745-8190
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.