Helping advanced cancer patients and caregivers with advance care planning
Facilitating Advance Care Planning Discussions Between Patients With Advanced Cancer and Their Family Caregivers Using a Resilience-Building Intervention
This study is testing a new online tool to help advanced cancer patients and their caregivers work together to plan for their future care and improve their emotional well-being.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 18 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Illinois at Chicago Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Trial ID | NCT06061965 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to explore the advance care planning process among patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers. It will involve identifying barriers to effective planning and conducting usability testing of a web-based intervention designed to enhance resilience. The intervention seeks to improve coping mechanisms, reduce anxiety and depression, and facilitate better engagement in advance care planning discussions. By focusing on dyads, the study will provide insights into how both patients and caregivers can work together to complete advance directives more effectively.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and older with a cancer diagnosis who have completed an advance directive and have a willing family caregiver.
Not a fit: Patients with cognitive impairments that hinder their ability to participate in the study will not benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance the emotional well-being of patients and caregivers while improving the completion of advance care planning documents.
How similar studies have performed: While there have been few clinical trials focused on resilience-building for advanced cancer patients, this approach is relatively novel and untested in this specific context.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients will be eligible for the study if they (1) are ≥ 18 years of age; (2) have a cancer diagnosis; (3) are able to read and respond to questions in English with minimal assistance from family caregivers for interpretation; (4) have previously completed an advance directive such as a living will; (5) have a family caregiver who serves as a surrogate in the advance directive and is willing to participate in the study; and (6) have access to the internet on a cell phone, laptop, or computer. * Family caregivers will be eligible if they (1) are ≥ 18 years of age; (2) are able to read and respond to questions in English with minimal assistance from others for interpretation; (3) are identified by the patient as a family caregiver who serves as a surrogate for health care decisions; and (4) have access to the internet on a cell phone, laptop, or computer. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who have cognitive impairment per a Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire score \< 8.
Where this trial is running
Chicago, Illinois
- University of Illinois Chicago — Chicago, Illinois, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Li-Ting Longcoy
- Email: liting@uic.edu
- Phone: 312-996-3024
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.