Palliative Care Consultation to Improve Communication for Patients Considering Surgery for a Pancreatic Neoplasm

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Overview

This clinical trial evaluates a palliative care consultation for improving communication between providers and patients considering surgery for a pancreatic neoplasm. Pancreatic operations have known complications that can affect quality of life. Palliative care has been shown to improve patient reported quality of life and functional outcomes. Receiving a palliative care consultation may improve communication and decision making for patients considering surgery for a pancreatic neoplasm.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: Patients receive usual care and undergo evaluation by a tumor board within 14 days of baseline. ARM II: Patients attend a palliative care visit over 60 minutes to discuss their illness, quality of life, fears and concerns and communication preferences within 7 days of baseline. Patients also undergo evaluation by a tumor board within 14 days of baseline. After completion of study intervention, patients are followed up 7 days after the tumor board visit and 90 days after initiation of treatment.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Conditions

Pancreatic Neoplasm

Interventions

Best PracticeOTHER

Receive usual care

Palliative Care ConsultationPROCEDURE

Attend a palliative care visit

Survey AdministrationOTHER

Ancillary studies

Tumor Board Review

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults (18 years or older) * Pancreatic neoplasm pathology * Ability to read, write, and speak in English * Has decisional capacity * Expected to be seen and discussed at PCSC and seeing a surgeon as part of their tumor board evaluation Exclusion Criteria: * Metastatic pancreatic neoplasm * Currently incarcerated * Currently is or previously has received palliative care, or are unwilling to forego palliative care for the first 90 days post randomization * Evidence of any behavior, condition, or circumstance (including, but not limited to: blindness, deafness, serious behavior or mental health conditions, discontinuing curative treatment, lack of access to technology, etc) that would interfere with their ability to complete study procedures as noted within the chart

Locations (1)

Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium

Seattle, Washington, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Percentage of recruited patients that consent (acceptability)

Acceptability will be defined as ≥ 60% of recruited patients consented.

Time frame: At time of consent

Percentage of patients randomized to the interventional arm who complete the palliative care consult prior to tumor board (feasibility)

Feasibility will be defined as ≥ 60% of patients randomized to interventional arm who complete palliative care consult prior to pancreatic cancer specialty clinic tumor board.

Time frame: At time of multidisciplinary tumor board discussion (No more than 14 days after baseline)

Secondary Outcomes

Percentage of participants who complete the decisional conflict scale

Time frame: At completion of 7 day follow-up timepoint

Percentage of participants who complete study measures within the first 90 days

Time frame: At completion of 90 day follow-up timepoint

Percentage of participants randomized to usual care who go on to receive palliative care within the active study period

Time frame: At 90 day follow-up timepoint

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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