Effects of Early Palliative Care Integration on Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
- Conditions
- Multiple Myeloma
- Interventions
- Other: Palliative CareOther: FACT-MM questionnaireOther: HADS questionnaire
- Registration Number
- NCT04248244
- Lead Sponsor
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Brief Summary
Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a common type of cancer involving the cells in the blood (commonly affecting bones, kidneys and blood). Although it remains incurable, MM has become a highly treatable form cancer thanks to new and improved treatment modalities. As patients deal with this disease, they often suffer from multiple symptoms that are caused by both the disease itself and the different drugs used to treat it. Research has shown that the most common symptoms patients suffer from include pain, constipation, tiredness, tingling in hands and feet, breathlessness, sadness and difficulty remembering things. These symptoms may negatively affect the quality of life of patients.
Palliative care (PC) is a type of treatment aimed at relieving symptoms and promoting the most optimal quality of life (QOL) for patients and their caregivers. Research has shown that patients with certain types of cancers, such as colon cancer and lung cancer, do better if they are seen by a PC provider early in the course of their disease. This study seeks to determine the effects of early PC involvement on participants with newly diagnosed MM
- Detailed Description
This is a pilot study with a prospective cohort design, and based in the outpatient or ambulatory care setting. Each participant will be followed for 12 months.
Twenty eligible patients will be enrolled, and within eight weeks of diagnosis. Patients will meet with a member of the outpatient PC team, which consists of board-certified PC physicians, advance practice providers and nurse care coordinators, within three weeks of enrollment. Additional visits may be scheduled at the discretion of participants, oncologists or PC providers and participants will receive routine oncologic care throughout the study period.
The primary objective of this study is to obtain preliminary data on the effects of early PC involvement in a cohort of patients with newly diagnosed symptomatic MM
The secondary objectives of this study are to assess self-reported QOL, estimate the change in QOL relative to baseline, estimate number of participants with self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety, to determine if monthly PC visits are feasible for participants, and to estimate health services utilization.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 20
- Must be within eight weeks of being diagnosed with symptomatic MM based on current diagnostic criteria
- Able to read and respond to questions in English
- Have an ECOG performance status of 0, 1, 2 or 3
- Receiving oncologic care at a Cleveland Clinic facility
- Have seen a PC provider in any setting (i.e., inpatient, outpatient or home-based)
- Need immediate referral to PC for hospice transition
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- SINGLE_GROUP
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Early Palliative Care Integration HADS questionnaire 12 months of PC with concurrent standard treatment for MM, QOL assessments Early Palliative Care Integration Palliative Care 12 months of PC with concurrent standard treatment for MM, QOL assessments Early Palliative Care Integration FACT-MM questionnaire 12 months of PC with concurrent standard treatment for MM, QOL assessments
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Number of PC visits made in the first 12 months after diagnosis At 12 months Feasibility of monthly PC visits as measured by the number of PC visits made in the first 12 months after diagnosis
Self-reported QOL as measured by FACT-MM scores 12 months Self-reported QOL as measured by FACT-MM scores The questionnaire is a combination of the original widely used and validated FACT-G (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General) questionnaire (27 items), and 14 MM-specific items.
FACT-MM total scores range from 0 to 164, with FACT-G sections ranging from 0 to 108 and MM-specific section ranging from 0 to 56.
Higher scores mean better QOL for all sections and total scores.Change in QOL relative to baseline as measured by FACT-MM scores 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months Change in QOL relative to baseline as measured by FACT-MM scores.
The questionnaire is a combination of the original widely used and validated FACT-G (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General) questionnaire (27 items), and 14 MM-specific items.
FACT-MM total scores range from 0 to 164, with FACT-G sections ranging from 0 to 108 and MM-specific section ranging from 0 to 56.
Higher scores mean better QOL for all sections and total scores.Number of participants with self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety 12 months Number of participants with self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety as measured by HADS questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of 14 items, two subscales (depression and anxiety) of seven questions each for depression and anxiety. Each subsection has a possible score range of 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating worse outcomes. A score of greater than or equal to eight on either subscale is considered clinically significant (i.e., probable depression or anxiety).
Health services utilization as measured by number of ER visits, hospital admissions or ICU admissions At 12 months Health services utilization as measured by number of ER visits, hospital admissions or ICU admissions
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Cleveland Clinic, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
🇺🇸Cleveland, Ohio, United States