Transitional palliative care to support patients moving from hospital to home
Palliative Care Yields Cancer Wellbeing Support
This program will try a coordinated palliative care intervention called Pal-Cycles to see if it reduces hospital readmissions and improves quality of life for adults with advanced cancer who are moving from hospital to community care.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 1050 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Radboud University Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Nijmegen, Gelderland) |
| Trial ID | NCT06259136 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a stepped-wedge implementation trial delivering a standardized transitional palliative care intervention (Pal-Cycles) across 14 care settings in seven European countries. Sites will sequentially start the Pal-Cycles program and outcomes in the intervention periods will be compared with usual care periods. The primary outcome is the number of hospital readmissions after transfer to community-based care, and secondary outcomes include patient quality of life, family caregiver experience, healthcare professional experience, and an embedded economic analysis. The project also includes training for clinicians to identify patients with palliative needs and adapt the intervention to local settings.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) with advanced cancer who are transitioning from hospital-based care to community or palliative care and who can provide informed consent are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are not transitioning from hospital to community palliative care, those with early-stage disease, or patients unable or unwilling to consent are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the Pal-Cycles program could reduce avoidable hospital readmissions, improve continuity of care, and enhance quality of life for people with advanced cancer near the end of life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous transitional and community palliative care programs have shown mixed but generally promising results, with some trials reporting fewer readmissions and improved quality of life.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged 18 years or above * Patients diagnosed with advanced cancer * Patients that are expected to develop or already may have palliative care needs * Patients who are in transition from curative (hospital) to palliative care (community care) Exclusion Criteria: * People with cancer unable or unwilling to provide consent to participate in the study
Where this trial is running
Nijmegen, Gelderland
- Radboudumc — Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jeroen Hasselaar — Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc)
- Study coordinator: Pippa van den Brand, MSC
- Email: pippa.vandenbrand@radboudumc.nl
- Phone: 024 361 1111
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.