Physician Perceptions About Parenteral Hydration in Latin America and Spain

Physician Perceptions About Parenteral Hydration in Latin America and Spain: A Survey of Physicians Affiliated With the Latin American Association for Palliative Care (ALCP) and the Spanish Society for Palliative Care (SECPAL)

The purpose of this study is to assess palliative care physicians' attitudes, beliefs and practice patterns related to parenteral hydration at the end of life in Latin America and Spain.

Objectives:

1. To assess palliative care physicians' attitudes, beliefs and practice patterns related to parenteral hydration at the end of life in Latin America and Spain.
2. To assess cross-national differences in practice patterns related to parenteral hydration at the end of life. (Latin America vs. Spain).
3. To determine the percentage of physicians who practice parenteral hydration at the end-of-life in the hospital setting and the home setting.

4. To examine the association between providers' parenteral hydration practice patterns and:

   • 1. provider demographic characteristics;
   • 2. specific characteristics of their practice settings; and
   • 3. training and experience in end of life care;
5. To determine which factors most predict the practice of parenteral hydration at the end of life among palliative care physicians.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Dehydration; Advanced Cancers
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Survey

Detailed Description

This study is a collaboration between MD Anderson's Departments of Palliative care and Rehabilitation Medicine, Health Disparities Research, the Latin American Association for Palliative Care (ALCP) and the Spanish Society for Palliative Care (SECPAL). The proposed study involves a 10-15 minute online survey of palliative care physicians from Latin America and Spain to assess their attitudes, beliefs and practice patterns related to parenteral hydration at the end of life.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 516

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
      • Recruiting
      • University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
      • Principal Investigator: Isabel Torres, MPH, DRPH

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Physicians affiliated with the Latin American Association for Palliative Care (ALCP) and the Spanish Society for Palliative Care (SECPAL)

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Palliative care physicians practicing in Latin America and Spain and affiliated with either the ALCP or SECPAL.
2. Physicians must report dedicating at least 30% of their practice to palliative care.
3. Physician must be 18 years of age or older.

Exclusion Criteria:

1) None

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Online Survey; Survey of Palliative care physicians from Latin America and Spain	Behavioral: Survey; 10-15 minute online survey to assess palliative care physicians' attitudes, beliefs and practice patterns related to parenteral hydration at the end of life in Latin America and Spain.; Other Names: Questionnaire

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Percentage of terminally ill cancer patients overall that receive an order of parenteral hydration as reported by physicians	Online Survey, completion any time during estimated 2 month period

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
• Investigators: Study Chair: Isabel Torres, MPH, DRPH, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Website

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): January 1, 2020
• Study Completion (Anticipated): January 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 10, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 10, 2009
• First Posted (Estimate): November 11, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 14, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 11, 2019
• Last Verified: January 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Palliative care; Spain; Latin America; End of life; Parenteral Hydration; Latin American Association for Palliative Care; ALCP; Spanish Society for Palliative Care; SECPAL; Online survey; Physicians' attitudes
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Metabolic Diseases; Water-Electrolyte Imbalance; Dehydration
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2009-0606

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No