Primary Palliative Care: A Feasibility Project for Family Health Units

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

In this feasibility cluster-controlled study, two Family Health Units in Coimbra will be randomized to either receive a GP training program and a structured 4-visit 12-week palliative-care model or continue usual care. The intervention includes a 30-hour online training for GPs on palliative care, symptom management, and patient assessment, followed by four guided consultations over 12 weeks for each enrolled patient. The study uses mixed methods to assess feasibility metrics such as GP adherence, patient recruitment, and retention, with the goal of informing a future larger trial. The design emphasizes real-world primary care settings and aligns with national palliative-care guidelines.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged 18 years or older.
* Enrolled as a patient on the list of a recruited General Practitioner in one of the participating Family Health Units.
* Diagnosed with one or more of the following advanced chronic conditions:
* Advanced-stage neoplasm (metastatic/stage IV cancer);
* Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - GOLD classification III or IV;
* Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) - New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification III or IV;
* Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) - stage IV or V.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Refusal to provide informed consent or to participate in the study at any point.
* Disease severity requiring urgent medical intervention (acute crisis/emergency care need at time of recruitment).

Where it's running

• Family Health Unit 1 - ULS Coimbra (Intervention)
  Coimbra, Portugal Recruiting
• Family Health Unit 2 - ULS Coimbra (Control)
  Coimbra, Portugal Enrolling by invitation

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Carlos S Cardoso, PhD
• Email: carlosseicacardoso@uc.pt
• Phone: 00351 239 857 700

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.