Spiritual care interventions for people with advanced cancer
Official title: Trial of Spiritual Care Interventions for Patients With Cancer
Run by Weill Medical College of Cornell University · NCT07408310 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests two spiritual care programs for people with advanced cancer to see if they improve spiritual well-being and how they use healthcare services like hospice and ICU.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 288 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Weill Medical College of Cornell University Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (New York, New York and 2 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 24, 2026 |
| Main results expected | April 2029 |
| Study ends | June 2029 |
| Registry record updated | June 2, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07408310 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults with advanced cancer who are members of a religious faith community, fluent in English, and not recently seen by a chaplain for spiritual care.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are too weak or cognitively impaired to participate, or who do not engage with spiritual care activities, may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This stratified, permuted-block randomized trial enrolls up to 288 outpatients with advanced cancer to compare two active spiritual care interventions against a control. Participants are randomized within geographic regions (New York City or Houston area) and site, with one active intervention delivered at a time per site to prevent cross-contamination. The study measures changes in spiritual wellness and satisfaction with spiritual care needs, along with patterns of healthcare utilization such as hospice enrollment and ICU admissions. Details of the active interventions are withheld until study completion to preserve scientific integrity. Eligible participants must be fluent in English, belong to a religious faith community, and not have received spiritual care from a chaplain in the last two months.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the interventions could improve spiritual well-being and influence patterns of healthcare use for patients with advanced cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research in spiritual care has shown potential benefits, but the effectiveness of specific multi-arm interventions in advanced cancer remains to be demonstrated in this design.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
1. Diagnosed with an advanced cancer. 2. Member of a religious faith community organization. 3. Fluent in English. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Received spiritual care from a healthcare chaplain within the past 2 months. 2. Too weak or cognitively impaired to engage in study activities.
Where it's running
-
New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
New York, New York, United States Recruiting -
The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
Galveston, Texas, United States Recruiting -
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Paul K Maciejewski, Ph.D. — Weill Medical College of Cornell University
- Study coordinator: Madison K Pavao, B.S.
- Email: mkp4005@med.cornell.edu
- Phone: (646)962-5650
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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.