Mobile Health Application (PACT) to Improve Engagement in Advance Care Planning

Launched by FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER · Aug 12, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new mobile app called Planning Advance Care Together (PACT) to help people with cancer have important conversations about their future healthcare wishes. The app aims to make it easier for patients to talk about what kind of care they would want if they were unable to speak for themselves. By involving family and friends in this planning process, the PACT app could improve how patients prepare for their care needs.

To participate, patients need to have advanced cancer and be 18 years or older. They must also have access to a mobile device with internet, be able to provide informed consent, and identify a supportive family member or friend to join them in the study. Those who are interested should know that the trial is currently recruiting participants, and the study is designed to help both patients and their support persons feel more comfortable discussing these important topics with their healthcare providers.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • PATIENT: Diagnosis of poor prognosis advanced cancer defined as locally advanced or metastatic cancer and/or disease progression following at least first line systemic therapy.
• • PATIENT: Access to a mobile device; the principal investigator (PI) will ensure that those who have access to a mobile device have access to a mobile device with internet access to ensure they can complete study procedures.
• • PATIENT: The ability to provide informed consent.
• • PATIENT: Identification and enrollment of a loved support person.
• • PATIENT: 18 years of age or older.
• • SUPPORT PERSON: The person (family member or friend) whom the patient indicates being a support person.
• • SUPPORT PERSON: English speaking.
• • SUPPORT PERSON: 18 years of age or older and able to provide informed consent.
• • PROVIDER: Current clinical practice and/or research with advanced cancer patients.
• • PROVIDER: A history of 3+ years working with advanced cancer patients.
• • PROVIDER: 18 years of age or older. Providers across disciplines (e.g., social work, oncology) will be enrolled.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • PATIENT: Not fluent in English.
• • PATIENT: Severely cognitively impaired (as measured by Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire scores of \>= 6) to be delivered by trained study research staff during screening.
• • PATIENT: Too ill or weak to complete the interviews (as judged by the interviewer).
• • PATIENT: Currently receiving hospice at the time of enrollment.
• • PATIENT: Children and young adults under age 18.
• • PATIENT: Resides outside of the United States.
• • SUPPORT PERSON AND PROVIDERS: Resides outside of the United States.