Early advance care planning education for young adults with advanced solid tumors or high-grade brain tumors

Empowerment Through Preparedness: Improving Advance Care Planning (ACP) in Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs) With Advanced Solid Malignancies and High-Grade Brain Tumors

NA · Mayo Clinic · NCT07174661

This project will test whether short educational tools help adolescents and young adults (diagnosed at 18–39) with advanced solid tumors or high-grade brain tumors start advance care planning earlier.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment50 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 39 Years
SexAll
SponsorMayo Clinic (other)
Locations1 site (Scottsdale, Arizona)
Trial IDNCT07174661 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This interventional pilot uses brief educational tools—including an early ACP video featuring AYA voices—plus surveys and electronic health record review to encourage timely advance care planning. Eligible participants are patients diagnosed at ages 18–39 within the past 12 months (or with an advanced-stage relapse) who have stage III/IV solid tumors or high-grade brain tumors and receive primary oncology care at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. The study measures whether participants have ACP conversations, document advance directives, and show changes on survey measures after the educational intervention. Data will be collected through patient surveys and chart review to compare ACP uptake before and after the intervention.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking patients diagnosed at ages 18–39 within the last 12 months (or with an advanced relapse) with stage III/IV solid tumors or high-grade brain tumors who receive primary oncology care at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

Not a fit: Patients diagnosed more than 12 months ago, those with stage I/II solid tumors, low-grade brain tumors, hematologic malignancies, non-English speakers, pediatric patients, or anyone not receiving primary oncology care at Mayo Clinic Arizona are not eligible and likely would not benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the tools could increase early ACP conversations and advance directive completion so care better matches young adults' preferences.

How similar studies have performed: Prior ACP education studies in adults have improved documentation and conversations, but focused AYA interventions are limited and this video-based approach is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18-39 at initial cancer diagnosis

  * Patient \<18 years of age are not included in this pilot as Mayo Clinic in Arizona (MCA) does not treat pediatric patients
* Recently diagnosed (defined as 12 months or less from initial diagnosis or advance stage relapse) with either a stage III/IV solid malignancy or high-grade brain tumor. This includes patients who have stage III/IV recurrence of previously stage I/II solid malignancy
* Actively receiving primary oncologic care at Mayo Clinic Arizona
* Able to read, understand, and speak English
* Those who have completed prior advance directive documents are still eligible to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Age \< 18 or \> 39 at initial cancer diagnosis
* Diagnosed with stage I/II solid malignancy, low-grade brain tumor, or hematologic malignancy
* Not receiving primary oncologic care at Mayo Clinic Arizona
* Unable to read, understand, and speak English
* Patients \> 12 months from initial diagnosis or advanced stage relapses, in survivorship or on hospice
* No internet or computer/smart phone access

Where this trial is running

Scottsdale, Arizona

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Advanced Malignant Solid Neoplasm, Malignant Brain Neoplasm, Recurrent Advanced Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.