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An Integrative Model for Palliative Care in End-Stage Liver Disease

Completed
Conditions
End Stage Liver DIsease
Interventions
Other: Standard of care including palliative care
Registration Number
NCT05238779
Lead Sponsor
Virginia Commonwealth University
Brief Summary

The purpose of this research study is to understand the impact of palliative care in ESLD on quality of life, emergency room or hospital visits, and on care provider burden, and to work to develop the best way to provide palliative care in ESLD.

Detailed Description

Patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) have multiple symptoms that impact their quality of life and result in more emergency room and hospital visits. Palliative care is a medical model that can help alleviate pain and suffering and reduce need for urgent medical care and can do so while continuing other appropriate medical care. While palliative care consults are used in those with ESLD, despite the pain and suffering that accompanies ESLD, palliative care is often used too little and too late.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
28
Inclusion Criteria

Primary participant:

  • admission for decompensated cirrhosis, age ≥ 18
  • willingness to sign consent
  • able to read and understand English
  • presence of decompensated cirrhosis with portal hypertension (jaundice, ascites, HE, hepatohydrothorax, AKI, HRS and/or variceal bleeding) or HCC

Caregiver:

  • identified as the primary caregiver of the participant
  • age ≥ 18
  • willingness to sign consent
  • able to read and understand English
Exclusion Criteria

Primary participant:

  • prior liver transplant
  • lack of capacity to provide informed consent (in the judgement of the investigator)
  • already in receipt of palliative or hospice care
  • those who are likely to receive a LT during the index admission

Caregiver:

• none

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
End Stage Liver Disease (ESLD)Standard of care including palliative carePatients with ESLD
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in symptom intensityUp to 60 days

Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) - participants rate the intensity of common symptoms on 0-10 scale with 0= no symptom and 10=worst symptom imaginable. Scores range from 0 to 90 with higher scores indicating worse symptoms.

Change in depressionUp to 60 days

Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) is a self-report instrument which assesses depression. Scores range from 0 to 27 with higher scores indicating worse depression.

Change in liver disease QOLUp to 60 days

Short-Form Liver Disease QOL - The SF-LDQOL includes 36 disease-targeted items representing nine domains: symptoms of liver disease, effects of liver disease, memory/concentration, sleep, hopelessness, distress, loneliness, stigma of liver disease and sexual problems. The minimum and maximum values of the scale are 0-100 with higher scores indicating better QOL.

Change in anxietyUp to 60 days

Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7) is a self-report instrument which assesses anxiety. Scores range from 0 to 21 with higher scores indicating greater anxiety.

Change in perform ordinary tasksUp to 60 days

The Karnofsky Performance Status will be used to assess participants ability to perform ordinary tasks. Scores range from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating greater ability.

Change in caregiver burdenUp to 60 days

The Zarit Burden Interview

Hospital readmissions and/or Emergency room (ER) visits60 days

Number of participants with ER visits or who are readmitted to the hospital during the study period

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Virginia Commonwealth University

🇺🇸

Richmond, Virginia, United States

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