Improving understanding and use of palliative care for cancer patients
EMPOWER 3: Improving Palliative Care Health Literacy and Utilization
This study is testing whether providing educational videos and materials about palliative care can help adults with serious cancer better understand and use these services compared to standard care.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 172 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Tulane University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (New Orleans, Louisiana and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT04733469 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study, led by Dr. Michael Hoerger at the Tulane Cancer Center, aims to enhance palliative care health literacy among adults with serious cancer diagnoses. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a control group receiving standard care with additional brochures or an intervention group receiving enhanced care that includes an educational video and materials about palliative care. The study will track participants' understanding, attitudes, symptoms, and utilization of palliative care over a six-month follow-up period. Family members of patients in the intervention group may also participate.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 or older with serious cancer diagnoses who may benefit from palliative care.
Not a fit: Patients with early-stage cancer or those not eligible for palliative care may not receive benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly improve patients' emotional and physical well-being by increasing their understanding and utilization of palliative care.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results in improving palliative care utilization through educational interventions, suggesting this approach may be effective.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Adult, age 18 or older
2. Meets criteria for 2a or 2b. 2a) The patient's doctor believes they may be appropriate for palliative cancer care OR 2b) The patient has a new diagnosis, recurrence, or progression of cancer in the past 90 days AND any of the following:
* Advanced cancer, such as:
* Lung Cancer: Stage IIIB or IV non-small cell, or extensive stage small cell
* Breast Cancer: Stage IV
* Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers: Unresectable stage III or stage IV
* Genitourinary (GU) Cancers: Stage IV
* Melanoma: Stage IV
* Hematologic Malignancies
* Leukemia (e.g., acute myeloid leukemia \[AML\], acute lymphoblastic leukemia \[ALL\], chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia \[CLL\]): advanced stage, treatment refractory, poor prognosis cell type or chromosomal abnormalities, older age
* Lymphoma: Stage IV or treatment refractory Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Multiple Myeloma: elevated β2-microglobulin, albumin \<3.5, PCLI \>1%, CRP \>6µg/mL, elevated LDH, plasmablastic morphology, or abnormal chromosome 13
* Advanced heart, lung, renal (kidney), or liver disease
* Two or more severe symptoms (≥7 on 0-10 scale): pain, tiredness, drowsiness, nausea, bad appetite, shortness of breath, depression, or anxiety
3. Patient can understand spoken or written English
4. Patient receives care in southeast Louisiana
Exclusion Criteria:
* Known history of receiving specialty palliative care or hospice
* Significant psychiatric or other co-morbid disease that would prohibit informed consent or participation in the study
* Unlikely to complete any follow-up surveys
Where this trial is running
New Orleans, Louisiana and 1 other locations
- University Medical Center — New Orleans, Louisiana, United States (Recruiting)
- Tulane University — New Orleans, Louisiana, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Michael Hoerger, PhD, MSCR, MBA — Tulane University
- Study coordinator: Michael Hoerger, PhD, MSCR, MBA
- Email: mhoerger@tulane.edu
- Phone: 504-314-7545
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.