Improving End of Life Care in Head and Neck Cancer

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)

Status: Terminated

Conditions: The Families or Next of Kin of Patients Treated at MSKCC for Non-cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the; Upper Aerodigestive Tract

Treatments: Behavioral: The The Family Assessment of Treatment at the End of life (FATE ) survey

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01632969

12-136

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to improve the quality of care provided for head and neck cancer patients. By better understanding the end of life experiences of dying patients and their families, the investigators hope to better anticipate and improve upon the experiences of future patients and their families.

Enrollment: 2 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Head and neck cancer patients who received their treatment at MSKCC who have died of noncutaneous squamous cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract and for whom family / next of kin contact information is available.
• Time of patient death must have been at least 6 months ago and no more than 4 years ago
• Patient age at time of death must be over 21 years of age.
• Those interviewed must be English-fluent.

Exclusion criteria

• Non-English speaking interviewees
• Next-of-kin who reported being unfamiliar with care received during the last month of life
• Next-of-kin who did not identify themselves as one of the patient's primary social supports during the last month of life
• Next-of-kin who were not physically present with the deceased at least once during the last week of his/her life
• Next-of-kin under age 21

Trial design

2 participants in 1 patient group

families or next-of-kin of deceased patients

Description:

The families of deceased patients treated at MSKCC for non-cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract for whom contact information is available will be recruited by mail and by phone.

Treatment:

Behavioral: The The Family Assessment of Treatment at the End of life (FATE ) survey