NCT05837598

Adapting the Tumor Board Model for Mental Illness and Cancer

Adapting the Tumor Board Model for Mental Illness and Cancer: A Single Arm Pilot Trial

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study examines the feasibility and acceptability of a virtual tumor board for cancer and mental illness for patients with serious mental illness and a new cancer diagnosis. The study also examines the impact on patient care, psychiatric symptoms, and clinician self-efficacy in managing this population.

Detailed description

Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) experience increased cancer mortality because of inequities in cancer care. Access to mental health and cancer care remains inadequate. Virtual tumor boards have been associated with higher rates of patients receiving guideline-concordant cancer care, but these tumor boards have not been adapted for cancer and mental illness. A virtual cancer and mental health tumor board intervention has potential to increase access to psycho-oncology and oncology expertise, facilitate clinician communication, and may address barriers to cancer and mental health care. The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a virtual tumor board for cancer and mental illness for our target population for patients and clinicians. We will also explore changes in cancer care, psychiatric symptoms, and clinician self-efficacy in managing this population. This study is a single-arm pilot (n = 30) based at a cancer center affiliate and the surrounding community. The intervention includes proactive identification using a registry, bi-monthly virtual equity tumor board focused on cancer and mental health using HIPAA-compliant videoconference that uses co-learning, assessment of barriers to cancer care, strengths, and goals of care, creating plans that identify who is responsible for next steps and patient communication, and relaying recommendations to patients and the treating oncology team.

Conditions

• Cancer
• Severe Major Depression
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar Disorder
• Lung Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Head and Neck Cancer
• Gastrointestinal Cancer
• Genitourinary Cancer

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Virtual Cancer and Mental Health Tumor Board	The Virtual Cancer and Mental Health Tumor Board intervention aims to increase access to psycho-oncology and oncology expertise, facilitate clinician communication, build understanding of the person's needs and strengths, and address barriers to care. Strategies include a proactive assessment of illness understanding, psychiatric history, and barriers to care followed by development of an integrated cancer and mental health treatment plan during the tumor board session that is framed in terms of patient values and addresses barriers to accessing psycho-oncology and specialty oncology expertise. These recommendations will be shared with treating oncologists, documented in the medical record, and shared with the patient. Patients will receive a transition phone call at 12 weeks.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-05-31
• Primary completion: 2024-05-31
• Completion: 2024-05-31
• First posted: 2023-05-01
• Last updated: 2023-08-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States