An Intervention to Help Patients and Caregivers Manage Stress and Improve Communication Skills When Talking About Cancer



Status:Recruiting
Conditions:Cervical Cancer, Cancer, Cancer, Cancer, Cancer, Lymphoma
Therapuetic Areas:Oncology
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - Any
Updated:1/10/2019
Start Date:December 20, 2018
End Date:December 2020
Contact:Kelly Trevino, PhD
Email:trevinok@mskcc.org
Phone:1646-888-0026

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A Communication-Based Intervention for Cancer Patient-Caregiver Dyads to Increase Engagement Treatment Planning and Reduce Caregiver Burden

This study will test an intervention to improve Latino/a patients' and their caregivers'
ability to manage difficult emotions and communicate about the patient's illness. This
culturally sensitive intervention has the potential to reduce Latino/a patient and caregiver
distress and improve patient and caregiver quality of life, shared understanding of the
patient's illness, and patients' and caregivers' ability to discuss, identify, and document
patients' treatment preferences. The intervention is designed to minimize burden to patients,
caregivers, and healthcare institutions to allow for easy integration into clinical practice.


Inclusion Criteria:

For Patients:

- Self-identifies as Latino/a

- Diagnosis of poor prognosis advanced cancer defined as: (1) locally advanced or
metastatic cancer (i.e., thoracic, gynecological, genitourinary cancer, or lymphoma)
and (2) disease progression following at least first line chemotherapy

- Fluent in English or Spanish

- Age 18 or older

- Has a primary informal caregiver (as defined by an unpaid individual who provides the
patient with emotional, physical, and/or practical support) who is willing and able to
participate in the study

- Score of < 10 on the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test (BOMC)

- To assess whether a prognostic discussion occurred, the oncologist must answer "Yes"
to the following: "Have you discussed the any of the following with Mr./Mrs./Ms.
[INSERT PATIENT‟S NAME]: If his/her cancer is curable, if his/her cancer is terminal,
or his/her life expectancy: Yes/No Note: This question will be included in the email
in which study staff request permission to contact the patient.

- As per self-report, residency in New York or ability to complete sessions in New York
to ensure that provision of TAC is covered by the professional licenses of TAC
interventionists (i.e., social workers licensed in New York State).

- Able to communicate over the phone for sessions

- Willingness to be audio-recorded for assessments and study sessions

For Caregivers:

- Is a primary informal caregiver (as defined by an unpaid individual who provides the
patient with emotional, physical, and/or practical support) for a Latino/a MSK patient

- Fluent in English or Spanish

- Age 18 or older

- Score of < 10 on the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test (BOMC)

- As per self-report, residency in New York or ability to complete sessions in New York
to ensure that provision of TAC is covered by the professional licenses of TAC
interventionists (i.e., social workers licensed in New York State).

- Able to communicate over the phone for sessions

- Willingness to be audio-recorded for assessments and study sessions

Psychosocial expert eligibility requirements:

- Current clinical practice and/or research with advanced cancer patients

- A history of 5+ years working with advanced cancer patients. Experts across
disciplines (e.g., social work, psychology) may be enrolled.

- Fluent in English as self-reported by a fluency of "Very well"

Exclusion Criteria:

For Patients

- As judged by the consenting professional, treating physician or self-report, too weak
or cognitively impaired to participate in the intervention and complete the
assessments

- Receiving hospice at the time of enrollment

- Deemed inappropriate for the study by their treating physician

- As per medical record or self-report, currently being treated for schizophrenia,
substance use or dependence, and/or bi-polar disorder

For Caregivers:

- As judged by the consenting professional, treating physician or self-report, too weak
or cognitively impaired to participate in the intervention and complete the
assessments

- As per self-report, currently being treated for schizophrenia, substance use or
dependence, and/or bi-polar disorder

Patient-Caregiver Dyads:

- Both dyad members respond "b" or "d" on the item in Appendix K, "How would you
describe your/the patient‟s health status: a) Relatively healthy, b) Relatively
healthy and terminally ill, c) Seriously ill but not terminally ill, or d) Seriously
and terminally ill" and respond "months" on the item "When you think about your/the
patient's life expectancy, do you think in terms of months or years."
We found this trial at
1
site
1275 York Ave
New York, New York 10021
(212) 639-2000
Phone: 646-888-0026
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center — the world's oldest and...
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mi
from
New York, NY
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