EMPOWER 3: Improving Palliative Care Health Literacy and Utilization

Launched by TULANE UNIVERSITY · Jan 28, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The EMPOWER 3 clinical trial is studying a new way to help cancer patients understand and use palliative care, which focuses on improving quality of life and easing symptoms. Led by Dr. Michael Hoerger at the Tulane Cancer Center, this trial will include adults aged 18 and older who have serious cancer diagnoses and are experiencing significant symptoms. Participants will be divided into two groups: one will receive standard cancer care along with some information brochures, while the other will receive the same care plus an educational video and additional materials to help them better understand palliative care. Family members can also join the educational sessions if they want to.

To be eligible for the trial, patients must have advanced cancer or other severe health issues and must be able to communicate in English. Those who have previously received specialized palliative care or who have serious mental health issues that could affect their participation won't be included. Over six months, researchers will check in with participants to see how well they understand palliative care, their feelings about it, and how often they use these services, all with the goal of helping them feel better emotionally and physically during a challenging time.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Adult, age 18 or older
• 2. Meets criteria for 2a or 2b. 2a) The patient's doctor believes they may be appropriate for palliative cancer care OR 2b) The patient has a new diagnosis, recurrence, or progression of cancer in the past 90 days AND any of the following:
• * Advanced cancer, such as:
• • Lung Cancer: Stage IIIB or IV non-small cell, or extensive stage small cell
• • Breast Cancer: Stage IV
• • Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers: Unresectable stage III or stage IV
• • Genitourinary (GU) Cancers: Stage IV
• • Melanoma: Stage IV
• • Hematologic Malignancies
• • Leukemia (e.g., acute myeloid leukemia \[AML\], acute lymphoblastic leukemia \[ALL\], chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia \[CLL\]): advanced stage, treatment refractory, poor prognosis cell type or chromosomal abnormalities, older age
• • Lymphoma: Stage IV or treatment refractory Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Multiple Myeloma: elevated β2-microglobulin, albumin \<3.5, PCLI \>1%, CRP \>6µg/mL, elevated LDH, plasmablastic morphology, or abnormal chromosome 13
• • Advanced heart, lung, renal (kidney), or liver disease
• • Two or more severe symptoms (≥7 on 0-10 scale): pain, tiredness, drowsiness, nausea, bad appetite, shortness of breath, depression, or anxiety
• • 3. Patient can understand spoken or written English
• • 4. Patient receives care in southeast Louisiana
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Known history of receiving specialty palliative care or hospice
• • Significant psychiatric or other co-morbid disease that would prohibit informed consent or participation in the study
• • Unlikely to complete any follow-up surveys