Primary palliative care for people undergoing stem cell transplant
Official title: Feasibility and Acceptability of Primary Palliative Care Intervention in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Run by Massachusetts General Hospital · NCT06676852 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We will try training transplant clinicians to provide basic palliative care during hospital stays to see if it works and is acceptable for adults having stem cell transplants.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Massachusetts General Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 5, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 30, 2026 |
| Study ends | March 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | April 24, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06676852 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (age 18+) undergoing autologous or allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation at Massachusetts General Hospital who can consent and communicate in English are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who have recently received inpatient specialty palliative care frequently, those with uncontrolled severe psychiatric or cognitive disorders, or non–English speakers are unlikely to benefit from this pilot.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Patients hospitalized for hematopoietic cell transplantation commonly experience physical and psychological symptoms that worsen quality of life, and specialty palliative care has been shown to help but is often unavailable. Sentinel is a primary palliative care program that trains HCT clinicians to deliver core palliative care domains before and during transplant hospitalization. In this pilot interventional study at Massachusetts General Hospital, clinicians will receive Sentinel training and deliver the intervention to eligible adult autologous and allogeneic HCT patients while researchers measure feasibility and acceptability outcomes. The trial excludes patients with frequent recent inpatient specialty palliative care use, significant uncontrolled psychiatric or cognitive disorders, or inability to complete study procedures in English.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could expand access to palliative care during transplant hospitalizations and reduce symptom burden while improving quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials of specialty palliative care during HCT have reduced symptoms and improved quality of life, but training transplant clinicians to deliver primary palliative care like Sentinel is a relatively novel, less-studied approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years or older * Undergoing autologous or allogeneic HCT at MGH Exclusion Criteria: * Prior receipt of inpatient specialty palliative care on two prior admissions in the past 6 months. * Significant uncontrolled psychiatric disorders (psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression) or other co-morbid disease (dementia, cognitive impairment), which the primary oncologist believes prohibits informed consent or ability to participate in study procedures * Inability to comprehend English as this is a preliminary/pilot study
Where it's running
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Richard A Newcomb, MD
- Email: richard.newcomb@mgh.harvard.edu
- Phone: 617-996-7584
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.