Feasibility, Acceptability and Preliminary Effects of the Spiritual Care Assessment and Intervention

Indiana University42 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to test a spiritual care intervention for adults with advanced cancer and their caregivers. This intervention will assess 4 areas of spiritual experience: meaning and purpose, relationships, transcendence and peace, self-worth and identity. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires and participate in 4 sessions with research chaplains.

Several studies have shown that cancer affects multiple dimensions of a patient's life as well as the lives of caregivers and others close to the patient who, when faced with life crises, may use religion and spirituality (R/S) to cope. This study is the first of its kind to incorporate a semi-structured spiritual care and intervention (SCAI) framework into the spiritual care of advanced cancer patients while maintaining proper controls in order to investigate its feasibility, acceptability and potential effects on the emotional and spiritual outcomes of advanced cancer patients and their caregivers. This framework will assess 4 areas of spiritual experience: meaning and purpose, relationships, transcendence and peace, self-worth and identity. Additionally, not only will this study assess acceptability and feasibility of the intervention, it will also track and document coping, satisfaction, anxiety, depression, quality of life outcomes and follow-up with both patient and caregivers following Spiritual Care Assessment and Intervention (SCAI). Specific Aim 1: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the SCAI intervention for adults with advanced cancer and their caregivers. Specific Aim 2: To establish our ability to collect outcome data to support a future efficacy trial for patients and their caregivers in the outpatient clinic and home setting. Specific Aim 3: To test the preliminary impact of the SCAI intervention on patient and caregiver spiritual wellbeing (primary outcome) and quality of life, religious coping, depression, and anxiety (secondary outcomes)

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Advanced Cancer Metastatic Cancer

Interventions

SCAI (Spiritual Care Assessment and Intervention)BEHAVIORAL

4 sessions completed with an IU Health chaplain using a framework of questions called the Spiritual Care Assessment And Intervention tool. The weekly sessions will focus on one of the 4 areas of spiritual experience (meaning and purpose, relationships, transcendence and peace, self-worth and identity)

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Patient is at least 18 years of age. * Patient is at least 2 weeks post-diagnosis of an incurable and advanced stage (IV) lung, colorectal, GI neuroendocrine and Hepatobiliary, testicular and esophageal solid malignancy and receiving cancer care at IU Simon Cancer Center. * Patient is willing and able to consent, has a reliable phone and willing to participate in 4 sessions of 30 (+/- 5) minutes per session. * Patient has a family member or eligible friend considered to be a caregiver and interested in participating in the study. * Patient has adequate English fluency for completion of data collection. * Family Caregiver (FCG) is at least 18 years of age. * Family Caregiver (FCG) has been invited to participate in the trial with a patient who meets eligibility criteria above. * Family Caregiver (FCG) is willing and able to consent and to participate in 4 sessions of 30 (+/- 5) minutes per session * Family Caregiver (FCG) has adequate English fluency for completion of data collection. Exclusion Criteria: * Patient makes 3 or more errors on a validated 6-item cognitive screener (Appendix A) or exhibits significant psychiatric or cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia/delirium, retardation, active psychosis) that in the judgment of the investigators would preclude providing informed consent and study participation. * Currently receiving hospice care (patients who enroll in hospice during the trial will have the option of continuing trial participation). * Family Caregiver (FCG) exhibits significant psychiatric or cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia/delirium, retardation, active psychosis) that in the judgment of the investigators would preclude providing informed consent and study participation.

Locations (1)

Indiana University Melvin & Bren Simon Cancer Center

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Rate of enrollment

number of eligible patients that are consented and enrolled in the trial

Time frame: from recruitment to enrollment (i.e. up to 30 days)

Attendance Rate

proportion of participants who attend all four intervention sessions

Time frame: 4 weeks

Mean Satisfaction Score

satisfaction score among participants on the satisfaction survey

Time frame: 4 weeks

Functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-Spiritual Well-being Scale Scores

Total score at baseline will be compared to score at to the score at 1 week, 6 weeks, and 3 months

Time frame: baseline, 1-2 weeks after session 4, 6 weeks, 3 months

Secondary Outcomes

Percentage of completed baseline surveys

percentage of completed baseline surveys in enrolled patients

Time frame: baseline

Percentage of completed follow up surveys

Time frame: baseline, 1-2 weeks after session 4, 6 weeks, 3 months

McGrill Quality of Life Questionnaire score

Measure of patient quality of life through total score at baseline compared to score at 1 week, 6 weeks, and 3 months

Time frame: baseline, 1-2 weeks after session 4, 6 weeks, 3 months

Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer Questionnaire score

Measure of caregiver quality of life through total score at baseline compared to score at 1 week, 6 weeks, and 3 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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