Massachusetts General Hospital
This research study is evaluating whether primary palliative care is an alternative strategy to specialty palliative care for improving quality of life, symptoms, mood, coping, and end of life outcomes in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Patients with newly diagnosed AML confront a sudden and life-threatening diagnosis, requiring an immediate disruption of their life and an urgent hospitalization to begin therapy. During their hospitalization for chemotherapy, patients with AML often experience difficult physical symptoms that negatively impact their quality of life and physical function. Patients with AML also experience significant psychological distress as they combat the abrupt onset of illness, uncertainty regarding their prognosis, physical and social isolation during hospitalization, and complete loss of independence. T…
Inclusion Criteria: * Patient Inclusion Criteria * Hospitalized patients (age ≥ 18 years) with high-risk AML defined as: * Patients with new diagnosis ≥ 60 years of age * An antecedent hematologic disorder * Therapy related-disease * Relapsed or primary refractory AML * Within five business days of initiating therapy with either a) intensive chemotherapy (7+3) or modification of this regimen on a clinical trial, or a similar intensive regimen requiring prolonged hospitalization; or b) hypomethylating agents +/- additional agents or modification of this regimen on a clinical trial…
Participants assigned to specialty palliative care will be cared for by both oncology and palliative care clinicians during their hospital stays for AML.
Participants assigned primary palliative care will be cared for by oncology clinicians who have been trained in palliative care during the hospital stays for AML.