Perception Prognosis, Goals of Treatment, and Communication

Pilot Study to Investigate Advanced Cancer Patient's Perspective of Their Prognosis, Goals of Treatment, and Quality of Communication With Their Oncologists

The purpose of this research study is to assess what the participant understands about their illness, prognosis, the goals of the cancer treatment and their communication with their oncology providers. This study will help us to figure out how the investigators can improve how other patients understand their illness and goals of treatment and help us improve communication with their doctors. This research is being done because there is not a lot of information on how much patients understand about their illness and prognosis.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Gastric Cancer; Pancreatic Cancer; Esophageal Cancer; Liver Cancer; Biliary Cancer

Detailed Description

• Participants will be asked to answer a few basic questions regarding race, ethnicity, religion, relationship status, education, income, and living situation.
• They will then be asked to complete a questionnaire which contains questions about their mood, spirituality, quality of life and their understanding of their treatment and prognosis and their communication with their oncologist. They will complete these questionnaires in the clinic or infusion room on one of their regularly scheduled visit.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 50

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
      • Massachusetts General Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All patients with a recent diagnosis of advanced gastric, esophageal, pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancer, not being treated with curative intent and receiving their cancer care at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Confirmed new diagnosis of advanced gastric, esophageal, pancreatic, and hepatobiliary cancer, not being treated with curative intent.
• Planning to receive chemotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospital
• Ability to read and respond to questions in English.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior chemotherapy for current stage of disease.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Completion of surveys	1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Survival	1 year
Patients perceptions of prognosis, goals of care, and communication with providers	1 year
Quality of end of life care	1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 20, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 22, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): July 25, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 31, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 28, 2017
• Last Verified: January 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: advanced cancer
• Other Study ID Numbers: 10-219