Facilitating Advance Care Planning Discussions for People With Advance Cancer

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · Sep 25, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is focused on helping people with advanced cancer and their family caregivers have important conversations about future healthcare decisions, known as advance care planning. The study aims to understand how these discussions happen between patients and caregivers and to improve a web-based program designed to build emotional strength and resilience in these individuals. Researchers are currently looking for participants to join the study, which will involve about 20 patient-caregiver pairs, with some of these pairs also participating in testing the online program.

To be eligible for this trial, patients need to be at least 18 years old, have a cancer diagnosis, and have already completed an advance directive, which is a document that outlines their healthcare wishes. They also need to have a family caregiver who is willing to take part in the study. Both patients and caregivers should be able to communicate in English and have internet access. If you or a loved one is interested in this study, you can expect to engage in conversations about healthcare preferences and help shape a supportive online resource designed specifically for people in similar situations.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patients will be eligible for the study if they (1) are ≥ 18 years of age; (2) have a cancer diagnosis; (3) are able to read and respond to questions in English with minimal assistance from family caregivers for interpretation; (4) have previously completed an advance directive such as a living will; (5) have a family caregiver who serves as a surrogate in the advance directive and is willing to participate in the study; and (6) have access to the internet on a cell phone, laptop, or computer.
• • Family caregivers will be eligible if they (1) are ≥ 18 years of age; (2) are able to read and respond to questions in English with minimal assistance from others for interpretation; (3) are identified by the patient as a family caregiver who serves as a surrogate for health care decisions; and (4) have access to the internet on a cell phone, laptop, or computer.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients who have cognitive impairment per a Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire score \< 8.