Community-Engaged Pilot Testing of Talking About Cancer (TAC) to Improve Engagement in Advance Care Planning
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Summary
This clinical trial studies whether telephone-based coaching sessions, Talking About Cancer (TAC), work to improve engagement in advance care planning (ACP) in patients with cancer that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced) and their support person. Participation in ACP, which includes having end of life (EOL) care conversations and completing advance directives (e.g., living will, health care proxy, do not resuscitate order), improves quality EOL care. Despite this, less than half of patients with advanced cancer have EOL care conversations or complete advance directives. TAC coaching sessions are delivered by a social worker over the phone. They are designed to help patients and their support person communicate about ACP, manage the distress these conversations can cause, and participate in the process of ACP with a clear action plan of having goals-of-care conversations and completing advance directives. This may be an effective way to improve ACP participation in advanced cancer patients and their support person.
Description
OUTLINE: Participants are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: Participants attend Talking About Cancer (TAC) telephone-based coaching sessions (2 sessions) designed to support participants in communicating about advance care planning (ACP), managing distress around ACP conversations, engaging in the process of ACP, and completing advance directives over 45-60 minutes each once a week (QW) for 2 weeks. ARM II: Participants receive an ACP brochure/handout on study. After completion of study intervention, participants are followed up at 6- and 12-weeks post-randomization.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * PATIENT: Current diagnosis of stage III or IV cancer * PATIENT: Able to provide informed consent * PATIENT: Fluent in English or Spanish * PATIENT: Have access to a telephone, computer, or mobile device * CAREGIVER (SUPPORT PERSON): Person patient indicates provides support * CAREGIVER (SUPPORT PERSON): English or Spanish speaking * CAREGIVER (SUPPORT PERSON): 18 years of age or older * CAREGIVER (SUPPORT PERSON): Able to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * PATIENT: Too ill or weak to complete the interviews (as judged by the interviewer) * PATIENT: Receivin…
Interventions
- OtherSupportive Care
Attend TAC telephone-based coaching sessions
- BehavioralTelephone-Based Intervention
Attend TAC telephone-based coaching sessions
- OtherSurvey Administration
Ancillary studies
- OtherEducational Intervention
Receive an ACP brochure/handout
Locations (2)
- Skagit Regional Health Cancer Care CenterMount Vernon, Washington
- Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer ConsortiumSeattle, Washington