NCT07490639

Family-Supported Palliative Care in Advanced Lung Cancer

Study on the Impact of Family-Supported Palliative Care on Decision-Making Experience, Mental Attitude, and Quality of Life in Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 110 (actual)
• Sponsor: Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and ethical implications of a family-supported palliative care model in patients with advanced lung cancer. A single-center, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted, in which 110 eligible patients were randomly assigned to either a routine nursing care group or a family-supported palliative care group for an 8-week intervention period. The intervention integrates structured family involvement, palliative care education, shared decision-making support, psychological counseling, symptom management, and nutritional guidance. The primary outcome is quality of life assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L). Secondary outcomes include decisional conflict (DCS), hope level (HHI), anxiety and depression (SAS/SDS), nutritional indicators (albumin and prealbumin), and pain- and inflammation-related biomarkers (substance P, prostaglandin E2, dopamine, and C-reactive protein). This study seeks to determine whether structured family engagement can improve patient-centered outcomes, reduce decisional conflict, enhance psychological well-being, and support ethically sound shared decision-making in the context of advanced cancer care.

Detailed description

This study was designed as a single-center, parallel-group randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of a structured family-supported palliative care intervention on decision-making experience, psychological status, and quality of life in patients with advanced lung cancer. A total of 110 patients with pathologically or cytologically confirmed advanced lung cancer were enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the control group or the intervention group. The control group received routine oncology nursing care, while the intervention group received an integrated family-supported palliative care program in addition to routine care. The intervention lasted for 8 weeks. The family-supported palliative care model consisted of multiple components, including structured palliative care education for patients and family members, guided shared decision-making discussions, emotional support and companionship, therapeutic recreational activities, continuous communication and follow-up support, individualized pain management, and nutritional support. Family members were actively involved in the care process to enhance communication, emotional support, and decision-making alignment. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention. The primary outcome was quality of life measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L). Secondary outcomes included decisional conflict measured by the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS), hope level assessed using the Herth Hope Index (HHI), psychological status evaluated by the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), nutritional indicators including serum albumin and prealbumin, and pain- and inflammation-related biomarkers such as substance P, prostaglandin E2, dopamine, and C-reactive protein. This study also explores the ethical implications of family participation in end-of-life care, particularly in balancing patient autonomy with family involvement. By integrating structured family engagement into clinical practice, the study aims to provide evidence for improving patient-centered care and optimizing shared decision-making in advanced cancer management.

Conditions

• Advanced Lung Cancer
• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
• Lung Neoplasms

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Family-Supported Palliative Care	A structured, multi-component palliative care intervention integrating active family participation. The program included palliative care education, caregiver training, shared decision-making support, emotional and social support, therapeutic activities, individualized pain management, and nutritional support, delivered over an 8-week period.
BEHAVIORAL	Routine Nursing Care	Standard oncology nursing care including general health education, assistance with activities of daily living, and routine psychological support, without additional structured family-supported palliative care intervention.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-01-01
• Primary completion: 2025-02-20
• Completion: 2025-02-28
• First posted: 2026-03-24
• Last updated: 2026-03-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China