VOICE: Values and Options in Cancer Care

University of Rochester

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cancer

Treatments: Behavioral: Communication training and coaching

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT01485627

35388

R01CA140419-01A2 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a combined intervention for patients, caregivers and oncologists improves communication, quality of life, and quality of care.

Full description

The purpose of this study is to (a) determine whether a combined intervention for patients, caregivers and physicians improves communication regarding treatment choices and prognosis in cancer, (b) to determine whether the intervention improves patient and caregiver well-being, quality of life and sense of peace, and (c) to determine whether the intervention affects health services utilization.

Enrollment: 485 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria: Physicians

• Currently in clinical practice at participating institutions
• Oncologist that cares for patients with solid tumors
• Not planning to leave the practice during the next 6 months

Inclusion Criteria: Patients

• Currently a patient of an enrolled physician
• Age 21 years or older
• Diagnosis of advanced cancer
• Able to understand spoken English (study personnel will read materials to low literacy patients)

Inclusion Criteria: Caregivers

• Caregiver of a patient currently enrolled in the study
• Age 21 years or older
• Able to understand spoken English (study personnel will read materials to low literacy patients)

Exclusion Criteria: Physicians

• Non Physicians and physicians who are not oncologists
• Oncologists who exclusively care for patients with hematological malignancies
• Prior involvement in health-related coaching interventions

Exclusion Criteria: Patients

• Unable to complete orally-administered surveys in English
• Hospitalized or in hospice care at the time of recruitment
• Prior involvement in health-related coaching interventions
• Anticipating bone marrow transplantation or diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma

Exclusion Criteria: Caregiver

Unable to complete orally-administered surveys in English

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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485 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Oncologists will receive communication training. Patients will be coached to make the most of the oncologist visit.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Communication training and coaching

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Patients will receive usual care