Enhanced Assistance During Radiotherapy for Unmet Essential Needs

Launched by WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · Aug 30, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how providing extra support can help patients with certain cancers complete their radiotherapy treatments without delays. Radiotherapy is a common treatment that uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells, and this study is focusing on patients who have more than ten sessions planned. The goal is to see if helping patients with their essential needs—like food, transportation, housing, or financial issues—can make it easier for them to finish their treatment.

To be eligible for this study, participants need to be at least 18 years old and scheduled to receive a long course of radiotherapy. They should also have at least one unmet need that could affect their treatment, such as difficulty accessing food or transportation. Participants will work with a social worker to address these needs and help ensure they can complete their radiotherapy. The trial is currently recruiting patients at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and those who join can expect to receive additional support throughout their treatment journey.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • At least 18 years of age.
• • Planned to receive or currently receiving a protracted course of curative-intent (neoadjuvant, definitive, or postoperative) radiotherapy.
• • For the purposes of this study, radiotherapy must consist of \>10 fractions (if radiotherapy not yet initiated) or \>15 additional fractions after the date of consent (if radiotherapy initiated prior to study consent).
• • Be willing to undergo radiotherapy at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital location.
• • Indicate at least 1 unmet essential need, including food insecurity, transportation insecurity, housing instability, utility needs, childcare needs, or other financial insecurity.
• • Accept a referral to and meet with a social worker.
• • Have unmet essential needs that will not be able to be fully addressed by standard assistance. This determination can be made by the assigned social worker or by the patient after they meet with the social worker.
• • Ability to understand and willingness to sign an IRB approved written informed consent document. Legally authorized representatives may sign and give informed consent on behalf of study participants.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Planned or scheduled to undergo radiotherapy simulation more than 28 days from the date of consent.
• • Admitted to the hospital and not expected to undergo \>10 fractions of radiotherapy as an outpatient.
• • Undergoing treatment for anaplastic thyroid cancer. Patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer have a relatively low likelihood of completing radiotherapy due to the aggressive disease course.