Cancer TerminalNCT03209440
Palliative Care for Elderly Outpatients
A study testing Dignity Therapy - Nurse Led and Dignity Therapy - Chaplain Led in people with Cancer Terminal, run by University of Florida at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Our long-term goal is to improve spiritual care outcomes for elderly patients with cancer. The study team will use a spiritual intervention, Dignity Therapy (DT), to help these patients maintain pride, find spiritual comfort, enhance continuity of self, and ultimately make meaning of their life threatening illness. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 55 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Cancer Terminal
- What is being tested?
- Dignity Therapy - Nurse Led and Dignity Therapy - Chaplain Led
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 579 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 26 Jul 2017to 31 Aug 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 55 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- cancer diagnosis (receiving cancer therapy or cancer control care)
- receiving outpatient palliative care
- age 55 years or older
- able to speak and read English
- physically able to complete the study (Palliative Performance Scale [PPS]>50, suggesting a mean in life expectancy of 53 days at the time of enrollment since each patient is expected to participate in the study for 28-42 days maximum [4-6 weeks]).
Who cannot join
- legally blind
- cognitively unable to complete study measures (Mini Mental Status Exam [MMSE] does not correctly spell the word world backwards)
- history of psychosis (medical record review)
- Patient Dignity Inventory score that indicates their distress level falls outside the remaining quota for a given step (quota is 50% of sample/site/step with low distress ≤ 2 problems rated >2 \& 50% with high distress ≥ 3 problems rated >2)
- Spiritual distress score that indicates their distress level falls outside the remaining quota for a given step (quota is 50% of sample/site/step with low distress ≤ 2 problems rated >2 \& 50% with high distress ≥ 3 problems rated >2)
- are participating in another psychosocial intervention study that is focused on concepts similar to the proposed study.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Our long-term goal is to improve spiritual care outcomes for elderly patients with cancer. The study team will use a spiritual intervention, Dignity Therapy (DT), to help these patients maintain pride, find spiritual comfort, enhance continuity of self, and ultimately make meaning of their life threatening illness.
Read the detailed description
The study team propose a 3 arm pre/posttest, RCT with a 4-step (approximately 12 months per step), stepped-wedge design to compare effects of usual outpatient palliative care (usual care) and usual care along with either nurse-led or chaplain-led DT on patient outcomes, cancer prognosis awareness. The study team will assign 6 outpatient palliative care sites to usual care during the first-step, and randomly assign two sites per step to begin and continue DT led by either a nurse or a chaplain during each of the next 3 steps. During the usual care steps, 280 patients will complete pretest measures and satisfaction with palliative spiritual care services, receive usual palliative care, and complete posttest measures. During the experimental steps as part of routine palliative care service delivery, 280 patients will complete pretest measures, receive nurse-led or chaplain-led DT, and complete posttest measures. Using mixed level analysis with site, provider (nurse, chaplain) and time (step) included in the model, the study team will compare the usual care and each of the DT groups for effects on dignity impact, existential tasks, and cancer prognosis awareness and explore the moderating effects of physical symptoms and spiritual distress. The study team will also determine the effect of usual care and DT on the patient's satisfaction with palliative spiritual care services and the report of the patient's unmet spiritual needs.
- Conditions
- Cancer Terminal
- Being tested
- Dignity Therapy - Nurse Led, Usual care, Dignity Therapy - Chaplain Led
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Dignity Therapy - Nurse LedBehavioural
The nurse-led intervention involves three sessions, each of which follows a set process. The standardize approach to the delivery of the intervention facilitates a personal process of reflection and recognition that allows the patient to make meaning of their experience.
Usual careBehavioural
Palliative care nurses usually see patients each clinic visit to assess vital signs, function, symptoms, and to provide patient and family education. They document findings and interventions in the electronic health record (EHR). Whereas usual care for palliative care chaplaincy in the outpatient setting varies by site, chaplaincy care for usual care patients in this study will follow the usual practice for inpatient palliative care chaplaincy, which is to visit all new referrals to the clinic and assess their spiritual and religious needs. This assessment is then memorialized in a spiritual treatment plan documented in the EHR.
Dignity Therapy - Chaplain LedBehavioural
The chaplain-led DT intervention involves three sessions, each of which follows a set process. The standardize approach to the delivery of the intervention facilitates a personal process of reflection and recognition that allows the patient to make meaning of their experience.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| usual outpatient palliative care | Active comparator | During the usual care steps, patients will receive usual outpatient palliative care Receives: Behavioral: Usual care |
| Dignity Therapy - Nurse Led | Experimental | During the experimental steps as part of routine palliative care service delivery, patients receive nurse-led DT. Receives: Behavioral: Dignity Therapy - Nurse Led |
| Dignity Therapy - Chaplain Led | Experimental | During the experimental steps as part of routine palliative care service delivery, patients will receive chaplain-led DT. Receives: Behavioral: Dignity Therapy - Chaplain Led |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Dignity Impact Scale
Our primary outcome measure is a 7-item Dignity Impact Scale. The items are scored on a 5-point scale from 'strongly disagree' (1) to 'strongly agree' (5). The scores can range from 7 to 35 with higher scores representing better outcome.
Measured: 5 weeks
Secondary outcomes (4)
Preparation
Preparation for death subscale taken from the QUAL-E, a measure designed to evaluate quality of life and to assess the effectiveness of interventions targeted to improve the quality of life at the end of life. Scores range from 4 to 20 with higher scores representing better outcomes.
Measured: 5 weeks
Completion
Life completion subscale taken from the QUAL-E, a measure designed to evaluate quality of life and to assess the effectiveness of interventions targeted to improve the quality of life at the end of life. Scores range from 7 to 35 with higher scores representing better outcomes.
Measured: 5 weeks
Peaceful Awareness
We measured peaceful awareness with the 2 items: terminal illness awareness and peaceful awareness questionnaire. The first focused on terminal illness acknowledgement (TIA) in which patients rated their current health status as 1) relatively healthy, 2) seriously but not terminally ill, or 3) seriously and terminally ill. The second item focused on the frequency of feeling deep inner peace or harmony, which was rated on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1) never or almost never to 6) many times a day. Scores of at least 3 on each of the two items defined positive peaceful awareness, a dichotomous measure.
Measured: 5 weeks
Treatment Preference
We measured treatment preferences with a single item from the standardized and validated Hypothetical Advanced Care Planning Scenario (H-CAP-S) that assesses treatment preferences.
Measured: 5 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Jul 2017
- Study start26 Jul 2017
- Primary completion31 Aug 2022
- Study completion31 Aug 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (16)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Cancer TerminalStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of FloridaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Model description
- a 6-site, pre/posttest, randomized, controlled 4-step, stepped-wedge design to compare the effects of usual outpatient palliative care (arm 1) and usual outpatient palliative care along with nurse-led (arm 2) or chaplain-led (arm 3) DT on patient outcomes and palliative care processes. The study team will assign the 6 sites to usual care during the first-step period (approximately 12 months), and randomly assign 2 sites per step to begin and continue DT during each of the next 3 steps (12 months each).
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 579 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Florida
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Cancer Institute (NCI), Northwestern University, Rush University, Emory University, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, Healthcare Chaplaincy
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Diana J Wilkie, PhD, Principal investigator, University of FloridaTammi Quest, MD, Study director, Emory UniversityGeorge Fitchett, PhD, Principal investigator, Rush UniversityMichael Rabow, MD, Study director, University of California, San FranciscoLinda Emanuel, MD/PhD, Principal investigator, Northwestern UniversityMarvin Delgado, MD, Study director, MD Anderson
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03209440
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB201601190-N
- Other IDs
- 5R01CA200867-05, OCR17893, PRO00002457
- Status last verified
- Mar 2024
- First submitted
- 26 Jun 2017
- Last updated
- 4 Apr 2024
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Scarton LJ, Boyken L, Lucero RJ, Fitchett G, Handzo G, Emanuel L, Wilkie DJ. Effects of Dignity Therapy on Family Members: A Systematic Review. J Hosp Palliat Nurs. 2018 Dec;20(6):542-547. doi: 10.1097/NJH.0000000000000469.
PubMed 30379798Scarton L, Oh S, Sylvera A, Lamonge R, Yao Y, Chochinov H, Fitchett G, Handzo G, Emanuel L, Wilkie D. Dignity Impact as a Primary Outcome Measure for Dignity Therapy. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2018 Nov;35(11):1417-1420. doi: 10.1177/1049909118777987. Epub 2018 May 24.
PubMed 29793345Kittelson S, Scarton L, Barker P, Hauser J, O'Mahony S, Rabow M, Delgado Guay M, Quest TE, Emanuel L, Fitchett G, Handzo G, Yao Y, Chochinov HM, Wilkie D. Dignity Therapy Led by Nurses or Chaplains for Elderly Cancer Palliative Care Outpatients: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2019 Apr 17;8(4):e12213. doi: 10.2196/12213.
PubMed 30994466O'Mahony S, Kittelson S, Barker PC, Delgado Guay MO, Yao Y, Handzo GF, Chochinov HM, Fitchett G, Emanuel LL, Wilkie DJ. Association of Race with End-of-Life Treatment Preferences in Older Adults with Cancer Receiving Outpatient Palliative Care. J Palliat Med. 2021 Aug;24(8):1174-1182. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2020.0542. Epub 2021 Mar 23.
PubMed 33760658Samuels V, Schoppee TM, Greenlee A, Gordon D, Jean S, Smith V, Reed T, Kittelson S, Quest T, O'Mahony S, Hauser J, Guay MOD, Rabow MW, Emanuel L, Fitchett G, Handzo G, Chochinov HM, Yao Y, Wilkie DJ. Interim Analysis of Attrition Rates in Palliative Care Study on Dignity Therapy. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2021 Dec;38(12):1503-1508. doi: 10.1177/1049909121994309. Epub 2021 Feb 9.
PubMed 33557587Bluck S, Mroz EL, Wilkie DJ, Emanuel L, Handzo G, Fitchett G, Chochinov HM, Bylund CL. Quality of Life for Older Cancer Patients: Relation of Psychospiritual Distress to Meaning-Making During Dignity Therapy. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2022 Jan;39(1):54-61. doi: 10.1177/10499091211011712. Epub 2021 Apr 29.
PubMed 33926243Schoppee TM, Scarton L, Bluck S, Yao Y, Keenan G, Handzo G, Chochinov HM, Fitchett G, Emanuel LL, Wilkie DJ. Description of a training protocol to improve research reproducibility for dignity therapy: an interview-based intervention. Palliat Support Care. 2022 Apr;20(2):178-188. doi: 10.1017/S1478951521000614.
PubMed 34036932Damen A, Exline J, Pargament K, Yao Y, Chochinov H, Emanuel L, Handzo G, Wilkie DJ, Fitchett G. Prevalence, Predictors and Correlates of Religious and Spiritual Struggles in Palliative Cancer Patients. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2021 Sep;62(3):e139-e147. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.04.024. Epub 2021 May 10.
PubMed 33984462Bylund CL, Taylor G, Mroz E, Wilkie DJ, Yao Y, Emanuel L, Fitchett G, Handzo G, Chochinov HM, Bluck S. Empathic communication in dignity therapy: Feasibility of measurement and descriptive findings. Palliat Support Care. 2022 Jun;20(3):321-327. doi: 10.1017/S1478951521001188.
PubMed 35713352Rantanen P, Chochinov HM, Emanuel LL, Handzo G, Wilkie DJ, Yao Y, Fitchett G. Existential Quality of Life and Associated Factors in Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2022 Jan;63(1):61-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.07.016. Epub 2021 Jul 29.
PubMed 34332045Schoppee TM, Scarton L, Bluck S, Yao Y, Keenan G, Samuels V, Fitchett G, Handzo G, Chochinov HM, Emanuel LL, Wilkie DJ. Dignity therapy intervention fidelity: a cross-sectional descriptive study with older adult outpatients with cancer. BMC Palliat Care. 2022 Jan 11;21(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s12904-021-00888-y.
PubMed 35016670Handzo GF, Chochinov HM, Emanuel L, Fitchett G, Hauser J, Kittelson S, Schoppee TM, Yao Y, Solomon S, Wilkie DJ. Letter to the Editor: Feasibility of Dignity Therapy to Reduce Death Anxiety. J Palliat Med. 2022 Oct;25(10):1458-1459. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0263. No abstract available.
PubMed 36190483Emanuel LL, Solomon S, Chochinov HM, Delgado Guay MO, Handzo G, Hauser J, Kittelson S, O'Mahony S, Quest TE, Rabow MW, Schoppee TM, Wilkie DJ, Yao Y, Fitchett G. Death Anxiety and Correlates in Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care. J Palliat Med. 2023 Feb;26(2):235-243. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0052. Epub 2022 Sep 2.
PubMed 36067074Al Yacoub R, Rangel AP, Shum-Jimenez A, Greenlee A, Yao Y, Schoppee TM, Fitchett G, Handzo G, Chochinov HM, Emanuel LL, Kittelson S, Wilkie DJ. Cost considerations for implementing dignity therapy in palliative care: Insights and implications. Palliat Support Care. 2023 Aug 11:1-5. doi: 10.1017/S1478951523001177. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 37565429Wilkie DJ, Fitchett G, Yao Y, Schoppee T, Delgado Guay MO, Hauser J, Kittelson S, O'Mahony S, Rabow M, Quest T, Solomon S, Handzo G, Chochinov HM, Emanuel LL. Engaging Mortality: Effective Implementation of Dignity Therapy. J Palliat Med. 2024 Feb;27(2):176-184. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2023.0336. Epub 2023 Sep 7.
PubMed 37676977
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Apr 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Palliative Care for Elderly Outpatients
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03209440
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB201601190-N
- Conditions
- Cancer Terminal
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 579 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of FloridaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Cancer Institute (NCI), Northwestern University, Rush University, Emory University, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, Healthcare Chaplaincy
- Study start
- 26 Jul 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Aug 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 Jul 2017 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 4 Apr 2024
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Our long-term goal is to improve spiritual care outcomes for elderly patients with cancer. The study team will use a spiritual intervention, Dignity Therapy (DT), to help these patients maintain pride, find spiritual comfort, enhance continuity of self, and ultimately make meaning of their life threatening illness.
Detailed description
The study team propose a 3 arm pre/posttest, RCT with a 4-step (approximately 12 months per step), stepped-wedge design to compare effects of usual outpatient palliative care (usual care) and usual care along with either nurse-led or chaplain-led DT on patient outcomes, cancer prognosis awareness. The study team will assign 6 outpatient palliative care sites to usual care during the first-step, and randomly assign two sites per step to begin and continue DT led by either a nurse or a chaplain during each of the next 3 steps. During the usual care steps, 280 patients will complete pretest measures and satisfaction with palliative spiritual care services, receive usual palliative care, and complete posttest measures. During the experimental steps as part of routine palliative care service delivery, 280 patients will complete pretest measures, receive nurse-led or chaplain-led DT, and complete posttest measures. Using mixed level analysis with site, provider (nurse, chaplain) and time (step) included in the model, the study team will compare the usual care and each of the DT groups for effects on dignity impact, existential tasks, and cancer prognosis awareness and explore the moderating effects of physical symptoms and spiritual distress. The study team will also determine the effect of usual care and DT on the patient's satisfaction with palliative spiritual care services and the report of the patient's unmet spiritual needs.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- a 6-site, pre/posttest, randomized, controlled 4-step, stepped-wedge design to compare the effects of usual outpatient palliative care (arm 1) and usual outpatient palliative care along with nurse-led (arm 2) or chaplain-led (arm 3) DT on patient outcomes and palliative care processes. The study team will assign the 6 sites to usual care during the first-step period (approximately 12 months), and randomly assign 2 sites per step to begin and continue DT during each of the next 3 steps (12 months each).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| usual outpatient palliative care | Active comparator | Behavioral: Usual careDuring the usual care steps, patients will receive usual outpatient palliative care |
| Dignity Therapy - Nurse Led | Experimental | Behavioral: Dignity Therapy - Nurse LedDuring the experimental steps as part of routine palliative care service delivery, patients receive nurse-led DT. |
| Dignity Therapy - Chaplain Led | Experimental | Behavioral: Dignity Therapy - Chaplain LedDuring the experimental steps as part of routine palliative care service delivery, patients will receive chaplain-led DT. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 55 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- cancer diagnosis (receiving cancer therapy or cancer control care)
- receiving outpatient palliative care
- age 55 years or older
- able to speak and read English
- physically able to complete the study (Palliative Performance Scale [PPS]>50, suggesting a mean in life expectancy of 53 days at the time of enrollment since each patient is expected to participate in the study for 28-42 days maximum [4-6 weeks]).
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- legally blind
- cognitively unable to complete study measures (Mini Mental Status Exam [MMSE] does not correctly spell the word world backwards)
- history of psychosis (medical record review)
- Patient Dignity Inventory score that indicates their distress level falls outside the remaining quota for a given step (quota is 50% of sample/site/step with low distress ≤ 2 problems rated >2 \& 50% with high distress ≥ 3 problems rated >2)
- Spiritual distress score that indicates their distress level falls outside the remaining quota for a given step (quota is 50% of sample/site/step with low distress ≤ 2 problems rated >2 \& 50% with high distress ≥ 3 problems rated >2)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Dignity Therapy - Nurse LedThe nurse-led intervention involves three sessions, each of which follows a set process. The standardize approach to the delivery of the intervention facilitates a personal process of reflection and recognition that allows the patient to make meaning of their experience. | Behavioural | Dignity Therapy - Nurse Led |
| Usual carePalliative care nurses usually see patients each clinic visit to assess vital signs, function, symptoms, and to provide patient and family education. They document findings and interventions in the electronic health record (EHR). Whereas usual care for palliative care chaplaincy in the outpatient setting varies by site, chaplaincy care for usual care patients in this study will follow the usual practice for inpatient palliative care chaplaincy, which is to visit all new referrals to the clinic and assess their spiritual and religious needs. This assessment is then memorialized in a spiritual treatment plan documented in the EHR. | Behavioural | usual outpatient palliative care |
| Dignity Therapy - Chaplain LedThe chaplain-led DT intervention involves three sessions, each of which follows a set process. The standardize approach to the delivery of the intervention facilitates a personal process of reflection and recognition that allows the patient to make meaning of their experience. | Behavioural | Dignity Therapy - Chaplain Led |
Primary outcome
Dignity Impact Scale
Time frame: 5 weeks
Our primary outcome measure is a 7-item Dignity Impact Scale. The items are scored on a 5-point scale from 'strongly disagree' (1) to 'strongly agree' (5). The scores can range from 7 to 35 with higher scores representing better outcome.
4 secondary outcomes
Preparation
Time frame: 5 weeks
Completion
Time frame: 5 weeks
Peaceful Awareness
Time frame: 5 weeks
Treatment Preference
Time frame: 5 weeks
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Apr 2024.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Background: PubMed 30379798Scarton LJ, Boyken L, Lucero RJ, Fitchett G, Handzo G, Emanuel L, Wilkie DJ. Effects of Dignity Therapy on Family Members: A Systematic Review. J Hosp Palliat Nurs. 2018 Dec;20(6):542-547. doi: 10.1097/NJH.0000000000000469.
- Background: PubMed 29793345Scarton L, Oh S, Sylvera A, Lamonge R, Yao Y, Chochinov H, Fitchett G, Handzo G, Emanuel L, Wilkie D. Dignity Impact as a Primary Outcome Measure for Dignity Therapy. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2018 Nov;35(11):1417-1420. doi: 10.1177/1049909118777987. Epub 2018 May 24.
- Background: PubMed 30994466Kittelson S, Scarton L, Barker P, Hauser J, O'Mahony S, Rabow M, Delgado Guay M, Quest TE, Emanuel L, Fitchett G, Handzo G, Yao Y, Chochinov HM, Wilkie D. Dignity Therapy Led by Nurses or Chaplains for Elderly Cancer Palliative Care Outpatients: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2019 Apr 17;8(4):e12213. doi: 10.2196/12213.
- Results publication: PubMed 33760658O'Mahony S, Kittelson S, Barker PC, Delgado Guay MO, Yao Y, Handzo GF, Chochinov HM, Fitchett G, Emanuel LL, Wilkie DJ. Association of Race with End-of-Life Treatment Preferences in Older Adults with Cancer Receiving Outpatient Palliative Care. J Palliat Med. 2021 Aug;24(8):1174-1182. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2020.0542. Epub 2021 Mar 23.
- Results publication: PubMed 33557587Samuels V, Schoppee TM, Greenlee A, Gordon D, Jean S, Smith V, Reed T, Kittelson S, Quest T, O'Mahony S, Hauser J, Guay MOD, Rabow MW, Emanuel L, Fitchett G, Handzo G, Chochinov HM, Yao Y, Wilkie DJ. Interim Analysis of Attrition Rates in Palliative Care Study on Dignity Therapy. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2021 Dec;38(12):1503-1508. doi: 10.1177/1049909121994309. Epub 2021 Feb 9.
- Results publication: PubMed 33926243Bluck S, Mroz EL, Wilkie DJ, Emanuel L, Handzo G, Fitchett G, Chochinov HM, Bylund CL. Quality of Life for Older Cancer Patients: Relation of Psychospiritual Distress to Meaning-Making During Dignity Therapy. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2022 Jan;39(1):54-61. doi: 10.1177/10499091211011712. Epub 2021 Apr 29.
- Results publication: PubMed 34036932Schoppee TM, Scarton L, Bluck S, Yao Y, Keenan G, Handzo G, Chochinov HM, Fitchett G, Emanuel LL, Wilkie DJ. Description of a training protocol to improve research reproducibility for dignity therapy: an interview-based intervention. Palliat Support Care. 2022 Apr;20(2):178-188. doi: 10.1017/S1478951521000614.
- Results publication: PubMed 33984462Damen A, Exline J, Pargament K, Yao Y, Chochinov H, Emanuel L, Handzo G, Wilkie DJ, Fitchett G. Prevalence, Predictors and Correlates of Religious and Spiritual Struggles in Palliative Cancer Patients. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2021 Sep;62(3):e139-e147. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.04.024. Epub 2021 May 10.
- Results publication: PubMed 35713352Bylund CL, Taylor G, Mroz E, Wilkie DJ, Yao Y, Emanuel L, Fitchett G, Handzo G, Chochinov HM, Bluck S. Empathic communication in dignity therapy: Feasibility of measurement and descriptive findings. Palliat Support Care. 2022 Jun;20(3):321-327. doi: 10.1017/S1478951521001188.
- Results publication: PubMed 34332045Rantanen P, Chochinov HM, Emanuel LL, Handzo G, Wilkie DJ, Yao Y, Fitchett G. Existential Quality of Life and Associated Factors in Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2022 Jan;63(1):61-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.07.016. Epub 2021 Jul 29.
- Results publication: PubMed 35016670Schoppee TM, Scarton L, Bluck S, Yao Y, Keenan G, Samuels V, Fitchett G, Handzo G, Chochinov HM, Emanuel LL, Wilkie DJ. Dignity therapy intervention fidelity: a cross-sectional descriptive study with older adult outpatients with cancer. BMC Palliat Care. 2022 Jan 11;21(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s12904-021-00888-y.
- Results publication: PubMed 36190483Handzo GF, Chochinov HM, Emanuel L, Fitchett G, Hauser J, Kittelson S, Schoppee TM, Yao Y, Solomon S, Wilkie DJ. Letter to the Editor: Feasibility of Dignity Therapy to Reduce Death Anxiety. J Palliat Med. 2022 Oct;25(10):1458-1459. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0263. No abstract available.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Diana J Wilkie, PhD principal investigator
University of Florida
Tammi Quest, MD study director
Emory University
George Fitchett, PhD principal investigator
Rush University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Dignity Therapy - Nurse Led and Dignity Therapy - Chaplain Led in people with Cancer Terminal, run by University of Florida at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Apr 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 4 Apr 2024). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Dignity Impact Scale (time frame: 5 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03209440, which also lists 16 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Apr 2024.