NCT03833817

Patient-caregiver Communication Intervention for Prognostic Understanding

A Communication-based Intervention for Advanced Cancer Patient-caregiver Dyads to Increase Engagement in Advance Care Planning and Reduce Caregiver Burden

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 28 (actual)
• Sponsor: Weill Medical College of Cornell University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to: (1) develop a communication-based intervention to improve advanced cancer patients' and caregivers' prognostic understanding using communication strategies (e.g., acknowledgment, validation of fears) and distress management techniques (e.g., deep breathing, muscle relaxation); (2) evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention among advanced cancer patients and their caregivers; and (3) test the preliminary efficacy of the intervention on patients' and caregivers' prognostic understanding (primary outcome); completion of DNR order, living will, and health care proxy; psychological distress; communication quality; caregiver burden; and healthcare utilization (secondary outcomes).

Conditions

• Advanced Cancer

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Talking about Cancer (TAC)	The TAC intervention is a six session intervention designed to teach the techniques of distress tolerance and communication skills in order to assist patients and their caregivers in discussing the patients' prognoses.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-09-20
• Primary completion: 2021-06-17
• Completion: 2022-01-18
• First posted: 2019-02-07
• Last updated: 2023-01-31
• Results posted: 2022-08-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States