Holistic Needs Assessment in Outpatient Cancer Care

University of the West of Scotland

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Oncology [See Also, Affected System]

Treatments: Other: Holistic Needs Assessment

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02274701

14/WS/0126

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluates the impact of holistic needs assessment (HNA) on patient/clinician communication in outpatient cancer care. Half of the participants will complete a HNA prior to their clinical consultation. They will then take it into the consultation and it will inform a discussion around any identified areas of need. Half of the participants will be in the control group meaning there will be no additional intervention they will receive care as normal. The consultations will be audio-recorded. The patient will complete two outcome measures following the consultation.

Full description

Holistic needs assessment is a checklist completed by the patient prior to consultation. It signposts issues of emotional, practical, financial and clinical concern. The purpose of a HNA is to identify patient's individual needs in order to facilitate better collaboration. During consultation the HNA facilitates a dialogue that will have the patient's concerns at the centre. In conjunction with a subsequent care plan the process supports timely intervention based on a collaborative, person centred discussion. However, there is little evidence on how HNA impacts upon the dynamics of the clinical consultation. This study aims to establish a) how HNA affects the type of conversation that goes on during a clinical consultation and b) how these putative changes impact on shared decision-making and self-efficacy.

Enrollment: 156 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Over 18, capable of informed consent and expresses a wish to participate.
• Diagnosed with cancer and attending a post-treatment out-patient oncology clinic.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals not diagnosed with cancer.
• Non English speaker
• Person deemed incapable of consenting to participate as defined by the Adults with Incapacity Act (2000)
• Any reason which in the opinion of the clinician/investigator interferes with the ability of the patient to participate in the study

Trial design

156 participants in 2 patient groups

Holistic Needs Assessment

Experimental group

Description:

Participants (patients) complete a self-reported paper assessment that asks them to indicate whether they have any emotional, practical, financial and/or clinical concerns. The patient then takes this completed assessment into their consultation. It is then given to the clinician where it informs a discussion based on the patient's needs and concerns as identified by them. A care plan is then written based on this assessment.

Treatment:

Other: Holistic Needs Assessment

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group entails standard care - routine consultation between the patient and clinician.