Development and evaluation of a psycho-educational intervention for patients with advanced cancer who have cachexia and their lay carers

Completed

Conditions: Cancer Palliative Care
Cancer

Registration Number: ISRCTN22427358

Lead Sponsor: Queen's University Belfast (UK)

Brief Summary: Not available

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Completed

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 200

Inclusion Criteria

Participants will be patient carer dyads where the patient has a diagnosis of advanced cancer with cachexia.
1. Aged 18 and over
2. Can read and write English
3. Have a confirmed diagnosis of advanced and incurable cancer
4. Have weight loss which does not have the potential to be reversed
5. Have access to a DVD player

Patients will be asked to nominate a ?significant other? who has observed the difficulties they are experiencing as a result of living with cancer cachexia. Inclusion criteria for the lay carers will include:
1. Aged 18 or over
2. Have regular face to face contact with the patient (at least five times per week)
3. Have access to a DVD player
All participants will be required to provide their written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

1. They are not living in their own home
2. They are experiencing symptoms too severe to allow participation
3. They have not had an end of life conversation with a member of the palliative care/day services team
4. They do not have access to a DVD player

Study & Design

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
1. The effect of the psycho-educational intervention upon the patient?s psychological well being two weeks after gaining access to the intervention, as measured by the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ)8.<br>2. The effect of the psycho-educational intervention upon the carer?s psychological well being two weeks after gaining access to the intervention, as measured the GHQ8.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
1. The effect of the psycho-educational intervention upon the patient?s and carer?s level of distress from lack of appetite and weight loss two weeks after gaining access to the intervention, as measured by the Self-reported Eating Related Distress and Weight Related Distress Visual Analogue Scales (VASs) 9 and the patient?s Self-reported family and friends are pressuring me to eat VAS.<br>2. The effect of the psycho-educational intervention upon the patient?s and carer?s coping mechanism as measured by the COPE questionnaire 11<br>3. The effect of the psycho-educational intervention upon the carer?s perception of their readiness for their role two weeks following the intervention, as measured by the Preparedness for Care Giving Scale 12.<br>4. To explore the usefulness of the intervention for patients who have advanced cancer and cachexia and their lay carers, through conducting qualitative semi-structured interviews with carer?s three-month post-bereavement.