The COMPASSION Study

Launched by DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE · Jul 12, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The COMPASSION Study is a research project designed to learn more about the experience of patients with advanced breast cancer who are receiving care at home through hospice services. The study aims to improve communication and support for patients, their caregivers, hospice nurses, and cancer care teams by using video or phone check-ins. This way, everyone involved can stay connected and share their thoughts and needs throughout the hospice journey.

To be eligible for this study, participants must be adults with advanced breast cancer that cannot be surgically removed and must be referred to in-home hospice services within a week before joining the study. Participants should be able to communicate via phone or video, even if they need some help, and must be willing to complete a survey a few weeks after starting hospice care. The study is open to individuals of any gender, but they must be located in Massachusetts. It's important to note that while non-English speakers can join, an interpreter must be present during meetings. Overall, participants can expect to share their experiences and help improve hospice care for others in similar situations.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patient of any gender with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer
• • Eligible for in-home hospice services and referred by DFCI clinical team to in-home hospice \</= 1 week before enrollment
• • Ability to conduct video or phone check-ins, even if assistance required.
• • Able to provide verbal consent with a willingness to take a survey at 4-6 weeks, if medically able
• • Hospice setting is within Massachusetts
• • Non-English language allowed but interpreter services must be present at each meeting and will be coordinated by scheduling team
• • Willingness to provide a caregiver/loved one's contact information for survey contact at 4 weeks after enrollment
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Unable to provide verbal consent
• • Hospice care planned outside of a home setting (note: if participants start out in a home hospice setting but later transition their hospice care to an inpatient setting, enrollment is allowed as long as they started in a home setting)
• • Hospice setting outside of Massachusetts
• • Individuals who are under the age of 18, as this is not a project focused on pediatric patients.