This study compares two types of care - Standard Oncology Care (SOC) and SOC with early palliative care (EPC) (started within 8 weeks after diagnosis of advanced disease) to see which is better for improving the quality of life of patients with advanced lung, pancreas, gastric and biliary tract cancer. The study will use FACT-G questionnaire to measure patients' quality of life.
The patients will complete a baseline FACT-G questionnaire and then will be randomized to a study group. Subjects who are randomized to Standard Oncology Care (SOC) will follow up with their treating oncologist. They will consult with the palliative care team at their request or at the request of the treating oncologist or of the family. They will complete FACT-G questionnaire at 12 weeks after enrollment. Subjects who are randomized to the SOC with Early Palliative Care (EPC) will meet with a palliative care team (basically composed by a palliative care physician and a palliative care specialized nurse) at their next medical oncology or infusion visit. They will meet with the palliative care team at least every three weeks. They will complete FACT-G questionnaire at 12 weeks after enrollment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
281
Subjects who are randomized to the Standard Oncology Care with Early Palliative Care will meet with the palliative care team at their next medical oncology or infusion visit. They will meet with the palliative care clinician at least every three weeks. They will complete questionnaire at 12 weeks after enrollment.
Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) (Quality of life measure)
compare change in QOL from baseline to 12 weeks between study arms
Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 weeks
Survival
Time frame: from date of randomization until date of death or for a minimum of six months
Resource utilization at the end of life (EOL): chemotherapy utilization
percentage of patients who died, that in the 30 days preceding the death received chemotherapy
Time frame: From date of randomization until death or for a minimum of six months after enrollment
Resource utilization at the end of life (EOL): hospital admissions
percentage of patients who died, that in the 30 days preceding the death were admitted to hospital
Time frame: From date of randomization until death or for a minimum of six months after enrollment
Resource utilization at the end of life (EOL): emergency room admissions
percentage of patients who died, that in the 30 days preceding the death went to the emergency room
Time frame: From date of randomization until death or for a minimum of six months after enrollment
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