Meeting between breast cancer patients and their pathologists
24GUT540: Opportunity for Breast Cancer Patients to Meet With a Pathologist to Review the Pathology Slides of Their Breast Samples
This project will try meeting breast cancer patients with their pathologists to see if going over pathology slides and reports helps patients understand their diagnosis and care.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Lebanon, New Hampshire) |
| Trial ID | NCT07040514 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Participants who have completed their initial diagnostic visit will meet with a pathologist who will review their pathology slides and reports in person. Patients will complete questionnaires about their understanding and experience before and after the encounter to measure any change. The study will also collect feedback from pathologists about the practicality and impact of these visits on their workflow. This is a single-center effort at an academic medical center focused on patient education and clinician feasibility.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults 18 and older with breast cancer who have completed initial diagnosis visits, have pathology slides and reports available, and can speak English are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with DCIS, those unable to provide informed consent, non-English speakers, or those without accessible pathology slides are unlikely to receive benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may better understand their pathology results and feel more informed and reassured about their care.
How similar studies have performed: Very few studies have been done, but most patient surveys of such encounters report positive experiences while the effect on pathologists remains less studied.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Must be at least 18 years of age. 2. Patients must have completed initial diagnosis visit with oncologist or surgeon. 3. Must have pathology slides and reports available for review. 4. Must be able to speak English. 5. Must be willing to participate in this research and will be provided with an information sheet. 6. Pregnant women are eligible as this research poses no risk of physical harm to the participant. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients \<18 years of age. 2. Patients with DCIS are ineligible. 3. Adults who are unable to provide written signature. 4. Patients from vulnerable patient populations, including infants, minors, those unable to provide informed consent, and those incarcerated or imprisoned at the time of enrollment.
Where this trial is running
Lebanon, New Hampshire
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center — Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Edward J Gutmann, MD — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Research Nurse
- Email: cancer.research.nurse@hitchcock.org
- Phone: 800-639-6918
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.