NCT03339271

Technology-enhanced Transitional Palliative Care for Family Caregivers

Technology-enhanced Transitional Palliative Care for Family Caregivers in Rural Settings

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 384 (actual)
• Sponsor: Mayo Clinic · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 21 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect and cost of technology-enhanced transitional palliative care on family caregivers who provide care to a loved one after a hospitalization.

Detailed description

There will be two groups in this randomized control study: technology-enhanced group and usual care group. The total amount of subjects includes both the palliative care recipients and the family caregivers (both the patients and their family caregiver will sign informed consent.) A family caregiver is broadly defined as the person self-identified as the family member or unpaid friend who is the primary informal caregiver for a patient with a terminal illness. The family caregiver may or may not be a member of the patient's nuclear family. For the technology-enhanced group, the study nurse experienced in palliative care will have a visit with the caregiver within the first 24 hours after consent, and have daily visits with the caregiver as long as the patient is still in the hospital. During these visits, the nurse will talk to the caregiver about their own self-care needs, begin transitional care planning, and develop Readiness Plans to anticipate care giving needs the caregiver may have when they discharge from the hospital. For the technology-enhanced group, the caregiver will take an iPad home so that the study team nurse can video chat with them. The iPad will need to be returned upon completion of the study. The study nurse will have a video chat with the caregiver at home within 24-48 hours of discharge from the hospital, and at least weekly for 8 weeks after that. The caregiver and the study nurse may also decide to have other calls on the phone during this time. For the usual care group, doctors and nurses along with input from the Palliative Care service will help the caregiver make a plan for discharge from the hospital and for taking care of the patient upon discharge. Someone from the study team will call the caregiver once a month to check in for the 6 months after the patient discharges from the hospital. Both groups will be asked to complete questionnaires before starting the study, and then up to seven more times over the course of 6 months.

Conditions

• Palliative Care

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Technology-Enhanced Support	The study nurse will meet with the caregiver daily until patient is discharged from the hospital. The caregiver will take home an iPad upon discharge, and will have an initial video chat with the study nurse within 24-48 hours of hospital discharge and weekly for 8 weeks after that.
BEHAVIORAL	Usual Care Support	The patient's doctor and nurses with input from the Palliative Care service will help the caregiver make a plan for discharge of the patient, and for taking care of the patient upon discharge. Someone from the study team will call the caregiver once a month for the duration of the study after the patient discharges from the hospital.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-03-20
• Primary completion: 2022-07-05
• Completion: 2022-07-05
• First posted: 2017-11-13
• Last updated: 2023-08-21
• Results posted: 2023-08-21

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States