Academic detailing -an educational program for General Practioners (GPs) to aid in their management of cancer patients with breathlessness.
Not Applicable
Completed
- Conditions
- Dyspnoea in cancer patients at end of life.Respiratory - Other respiratory disorders / diseases
- Registration Number
- ACTRN12609000193279
- Lead Sponsor
- Flinders University - Department of Palliative and Supportive Services
- Brief Summary
Not available
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- Completed
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 35
Inclusion Criteria
Moderate to severe dyspnoea (score of 3-5 on the modified MRC scale.)
Referred to Southern Palliative Services (SAPS) with cancer.
Within the geographic area visited by SAPS Community Palliative Care Nurses.
All GPs of patients who consent to the study.
Exclusion Criteria
Patients who are cognitively impaired Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) <24 .
Patients who are dying at time of referral (expected death within 2 weeks)
Patients who are referred to SAPS while hospital in-patients and are unlikely to be discharged( no further GP involvement). Patients who do not give consent or whose GP does not give consent.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method The primary outcome is the uptake of key messages by GPs. This will be assessed by a single questionnaire which will ask questions about the current treatments GPs use for their patients with dyspnoea, acceptability of the academic detailing program and how it has impacted on their practice.[Approximately 10 weeks after randomisation.]
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Patient sensation of dyspnoea measured by the 0-10 point numerical rating scale (NRS) for dyspnoea and a categorical or verbal rating scales for dyspnoea.[At baseline,and at 6 weeks and 8 weeks post randomisation.];Patient level of function measured by the modified MRC (Medical Research Council Scale)and the DES<br> (Dyspnoea Exertion Scale)[At baseline and at 6 weeks and 8 weeks post randomisation.];Patient quality of life measured by the McGill QOL Questionnaire.[At baseline and at 6 weeks and 8 weeks post randomisation.];Patient self-efficacy measured by the Australian-modified Karnofsky Performance Scale and a global rating scale.[At baseline and at 6 weeks and 8 weeks post randomisation.];Stress and anxiety of patients measured by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment.[At baseline, and at 6 weeks and 8 weeks post randomisation]