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CommunicationNCT05667571

Symptom Communication in Advanced Cancer

An observational study of Communication and Cancer, run by National Taiwan University Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Background Improving patient-provider communication is a fundamental and cost-effective method to advance patient outcomes, including symptom management which is often the primary goal of care for patients with advanced cancer. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 20 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Communication, Cancer, Symptom, Behavioral
How many people
52 participants
Where
1 siteTaiwan
Study dates
9 Jan 2019to 2 Sep 2020
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

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 20 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: Advanced cancer patients

Who may be able to join

  • Currently a patient of a participating physician
  • Diagnosed with advanced solid cancer (TNM stage III or IV)
  • Aged 20 years or older
  • Able to tolerate an interview that will last approximately 30 minus
  • Able to speak Chinese or Taiwanese.

Who cannot join

  • Do not experience any symptoms
  • Are hospitalized at recruitment

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Taiwan1 site
  • National Taiwan University Hospital

    Taipei, 10051

Other trials in Taiwan

About this study

Official title: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study of Symptom Communication in Advanced Cancer: Patterns and Associating Factors

Background Improving patient-provider communication is a fundamental and cost-effective method to advance patient outcomes, including symptom management which is often the primary goal of care for patients with advanced cancer. Unfortunately, some studies revealed the poor quality of symptom communication among cancer patients and healthcare providers. While these evidences suggest important gaps in communication about symptoms with some of the most vulnerable patients, little is known about the patterns and associating factors of symptom communication.

Purpose and Specific Aims The proposed 3-year pilot project aims to provide an enrich and systematic description of symptom communication by validating a newly developed typology of interaction patterns of symptom communication (TIPSC) between patients with advanced cancer, their caregivers, and healthcare providers and explore factors related to each interaction pattern. The specific aims are to: (1) validate TIPSC in Taiwanese advanced cancer population, (2) explore patients' /caregivers' experience and thoughts of symptom discussion in regard to their interaction patterns and symptom management, and (3) examine relationships between interaction patterns and (a) demographic factors, (b) symptom severity, (c) congruence in symptom assessment between patients/caregivers and providers, (d) patients'/caregivers' perceived ability to communicate with providers, and (e) patient/caregiver satisfaction.

Read more

Sampling This pilot study plans to recruit about 50 patient/caregiver - oncologist dyads. The recruitment process contains three stages. First, medical oncologists who are currently in clinical practice at participating institutions and care for patients with solid tumors will be approached. Second, participating oncologists' patients will be recruited if they are: (1) currently a patient of a participating oncologist, (2) diagnosed with stage III or IV solid cancer, (3) aged 20 years or older, (4) able to tolerate an interview that will last approximately 30 minus, and (5) able to speak Chinese or Taiwanese. Finally, if applicable, adult caregivers who intent to join selected out-patient-department (OPD) visit with the patients will also be recruited.

Research Design This is a mixed-methods study with a two-phase exploratory sequential design. The first phase is a qualitative descriptive study in which the investigators will record patient/caregiver-oncologist OPD visits and conduct patient/caregiver interviews to address aim 1 and 2. Discourse and conversation analysis will be used to analyze the recorded visits and content analysis will be used to analyze the interviews. The second phase is a correlational study in which the investigators use questionnaires to measure variables and examine their relationship with interaction patterns (aim 3). Descriptive statistics, binomial logistic regression, and linear regression will be used to analyze quantitative data.

Expecting Results This is a pioneering study addressing the patterns and associating factors of symptom communication in Taiwanese patients with advanced cancer. The findings will systematically map out the patient/caregiver-provider symptom communication and identify relationships between communication patterns and meaningful indicators. This proposed study is a critical step to understand patient/caregiver-provider communication regarding symptoms in order to pinpoint symptom management and communication barriers and design proper interventions in Taiwan.

Medical subject headings
Communication, Neoplasms, Behavioral Symptoms

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Chinese Patients' Satisfaction Scale (C-PSS)

    patient satisfaction

    Measured: Once, immediately after outpatient visit

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORCT-QLQ C30)

    congruence of symptom management between patients and providers

    Measured: Once, immediately after outpatient visit

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted28 Dec 2022
  2. Study start9 Jan 2019
  3. Primary completion2 Sep 2020
  4. Study completion2 Sep 2020

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrolment
52 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05667571
Sponsor's protocol ID
201807052RINC
Status last verified
Sep 2018
First submitted
27 Sep 2022
Last updated
28 Dec 2022
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Communication and Cancer, run by National Taiwan University Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.

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 2 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 28 Dec 2022. 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 Taiwan. 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?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

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?

Chinese Patients' Satisfaction Scale (C-PSS) (time frame: Once, immediately after outpatient visit). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 28 Dec 2022.

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